Ábrahám Levente: Válogatott tanulmányok II. - Natura Somogyiensis 9. (Kaposvár, 2006)

Lanszki József: A kuvik (Athene noctua) táplálék-összetétele egy Somogy megyei külvárosi élőhelyen - Seasonal diet composition of little owl (Athene noctua) in a suburban habitat, Somogy county

324 NATURA SOMOGYIENSIS Seasonal diet composition of little owl (Athene noctud) in a suburban habitat, Somogy county JÓZSEF LANSZKI The diet composition of a little owl {Athene noctud) pair were studied in a hilly agricultural environment between June 1995 and August 2000 by pellet analysis (n = 587 samples) in suburb of Kaposvár. Consumption of invertebrates, as dominant food of owls was lowest in winter (46.7%, percentage relative frequency of occurrence) and increased until summer (59.7%»). Main invertebrate preys were beetles (especially Carabidae and Melolonthidae), consumption of earthworms ranged between 13.3% and 15.5%. Prédation on vertebrates decreased from winter (38.1%) to autumn (22.9%). Main vertebrate prey was the common vole. Plant matter played important role, consumption of plants ranged between 14.1% and 19.4%. With respect to diet composition season-dependent differences proved not significant, but year-dependent differences did. Food spectrum of the little owl was wide, 12 small mammals, 3 medium-sized mammals, 1-1 passerine bird and amphibian, 16 beetles, 10 other invertebrates and 4 plant taxa occurred in the pellets.