Sex-specific diet analysis of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Finland

In this study we used the stomach contents of Eagle Owls (primarily 1st winter birds) made available from Finnish museums or taxidermists. Female owls from Finland had an average weight of 2760g (N=50), while male weights averaged 2200g (N=35). The most common prey for both male and female owls was...

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Main Authors: Mikkola, Heimo, Tornberg, Risto
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BirdLife Finland 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856
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spelling fttsvojs:oai:journal.fi:article/133856 2023-09-05T13:19:16+02:00 Sex-specific diet analysis of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Finland Mikkola, Heimo Tornberg, Risto 2014-09-30 application/pdf https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856 eng eng BirdLife Finland https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856/82409 https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856/82410 https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856 Ornis Fennica; Vol 91 Nro 3 (2014); 195–200 Ornis Fennica; Vol. 91 No. 3 (2014); 195–200 0030-5685 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2014 fttsvojs 2023-08-23T23:03:11Z In this study we used the stomach contents of Eagle Owls (primarily 1st winter birds) made available from Finnish museums or taxidermists. Female owls from Finland had an average weight of 2760g (N=50), while male weights averaged 2200g (N=35). The most common prey for both male and female owls was Field Vole. Despite our limited material (42 female and 24 male stomachs), it suggests that Eagle Owl females preyed upon relatively larger prey (Hedgehogs, Muskrat and a wider variety of larger birds) than males. A more correct way to test whether females and males select different prey, diet for males and females hunting in the same area simultaneously should be studied. This would include intensive radio telemetry and/or the video filming of the sexed individuals.The dead found Eagle Owl specimens used in the current study, however, provide the cheapest avenue to address sexual dietary differences in species where internal examination is the only sure way to determine gender. Article in Journal/Newspaper eurasian eagle-owl Federation of Finnish Learned Societies: Scientific Journals Online
institution Open Polar
collection Federation of Finnish Learned Societies: Scientific Journals Online
op_collection_id fttsvojs
language English
description In this study we used the stomach contents of Eagle Owls (primarily 1st winter birds) made available from Finnish museums or taxidermists. Female owls from Finland had an average weight of 2760g (N=50), while male weights averaged 2200g (N=35). The most common prey for both male and female owls was Field Vole. Despite our limited material (42 female and 24 male stomachs), it suggests that Eagle Owl females preyed upon relatively larger prey (Hedgehogs, Muskrat and a wider variety of larger birds) than males. A more correct way to test whether females and males select different prey, diet for males and females hunting in the same area simultaneously should be studied. This would include intensive radio telemetry and/or the video filming of the sexed individuals.The dead found Eagle Owl specimens used in the current study, however, provide the cheapest avenue to address sexual dietary differences in species where internal examination is the only sure way to determine gender.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Mikkola, Heimo
Tornberg, Risto
spellingShingle Mikkola, Heimo
Tornberg, Risto
Sex-specific diet analysis of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Finland
author_facet Mikkola, Heimo
Tornberg, Risto
author_sort Mikkola, Heimo
title Sex-specific diet analysis of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Finland
title_short Sex-specific diet analysis of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Finland
title_full Sex-specific diet analysis of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Finland
title_fullStr Sex-specific diet analysis of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Finland
title_full_unstemmed Sex-specific diet analysis of the Eurasian Eagle Owl in Finland
title_sort sex-specific diet analysis of the eurasian eagle owl in finland
publisher BirdLife Finland
publishDate 2014
url https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856
genre eurasian eagle-owl
genre_facet eurasian eagle-owl
op_source Ornis Fennica; Vol 91 Nro 3 (2014); 195–200
Ornis Fennica; Vol. 91 No. 3 (2014); 195–200
0030-5685
op_relation https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856/82409
https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856/82410
https://ornisfennica.journal.fi/article/view/133856
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