Diet of Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus in the urban environment of Maribor (NE Slovenia)

Abstract

Abstract The article presents dietary habits of the Peregrine Falcon in the urban environment of Maribor. The diet was studied with an analysis of prey remnants at the nesting site. In October 2015, prey remnants were collected after the nesting in and around the nest built on top of the grain storage silo. Prey remnants, mostly bones and feathers, were sorted into body parts: skull with the beak, wings, and legs. Wings were the most numerous remnants with 41.7%, followed by legs and skulls with 28.1% each. In total, 96 units of prey were found, belonging to five different species of birds. The number of specimens and biomass was dominated by Feral Pigeons Columba livia domestica with 64.6% in number and 89.5% in prey biomass. The second most frequent prey of falcons were Starlings Sturnus vulgaris.