Two New Prey for the Gray Hawk, Buteo Plagiatus (schlegel, 1862)

Published In

Caribbean Journal of Science

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

8-25-2024

Abstract

Understanding the dietary habits of animals is paramount, and the initial step in comprehending a species' ecology involves identifying its food intake. The Gray Hawk, Buteo plagiatus, preys on large insects and small vertebrates, occasionally including some birds. However, there is little information about which bird species are included in its diet. Here we present the first record of a Gray Hawk preying on a Squirrel Cuckoo, Piaya cayana, in Costa Rica, and describe the hunting strategy utilized by the hawk to capture this relatively large bird. Besides, we report for the first time predation by the Gray Hawk on the Variegated Squirrel, Echinosciurus variegatoides, a relatively large mammal of over 500 g. This report contributes to the knowledge about the natural history of three species that share similar habitats.

Rights

Copyright © 2023 BioOne

DOI

10.18475/cjos.v54i1.a2

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42521

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