Nordic irruptive birds within a Mediterranean avian assemblage at the Neanderthal and modern human site of Cova del Gegant (Sitges, Barcelona)

Abstract

The avian remains from Cova del Gegant site (Sitges, Barcelona) presents a Mediterranean assemblage with the occurrence of irruptive Nordic species (Bubo scandiacus, Plectrophenax nivalis, Pinicola enucleator and Loxia pytyopsittacus) in certain stratigraphic layers associated with cooler climatic phases. These remains suggest the presence of ornithocenoses that have no equivalent in modern European avifauna. Alectoris rufa is relatively abundant species in the stratigraphic sequence, and together with other Mediterranean birds, constitutes the majority of the faunal record. However, the presence of five Nordic irruptive species indicates periodic climatic shifts that resulted in the displacement of these birds to the south. Despite the current littoral location of the site, the presence of only a limited number of seabirds was observed, which may be attributed to the absence of raptors that typically hunt on water surfaces and to the presence of an emerged coastal platform in front of the cave. The assemblage comprises 46 identified bird species. It is noteworthy that choughs (P. pyrrhocorax and P. graculus), which seek refuge in rock cavities, are overrepresented in the record due to their behaviour of retreating deeper into caves when threatened.