Turkish Journal of Zoology

Diet Composition of the Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Bubo ascalaphus, in Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan
Adwan H. SHEHAB¹, Michal CIACH²
¹General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) Douma P.O. Box 113, Damascus, SYRIA
²Department of Forest Zoology and Wildlife Management, Agricultural University of Kraków, Faculty of Forestry, al. 29 Listopada 46 31 - 425 Kraków, POLAND

Abstract: Pellets of the Pharaoh Eagle Owl Bubo ascalaphus were collected from Azraq Nature Reserve in the Eastern Desert of Jordan. Analysis of the content of the owl pellets yielded the remains of 107 individuals of prey representing 15 different species. Based on the numbers of individual prey items, 13.1% was represented by 3 insectivores (Hemiechinus aff. auritus, Crocidura suaveolens, and Suncus etruscus) and 73.8% by 4 rodents (Mus aff. musculus, Meriones libycus, Gerbillus nanus, and Jaculus jaculus). In total, mammals constituted 86.9% of the total number of prey items and 89.9% of the prey mass. We also identified 4 birds (Passer domesticus, Luscinia sp, Sylvia sp, one belonging to Alaudidae family), as well as 2 unidentified lizards, 1 snake, and 2 insects.

Key Words: Bubo ascalaphus, Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Azraq, Jordan, pellets, small mammals

Turk. J. Zool., 32, (2008), 65-69.
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Other articles published in the same issue: Turk. J. Zool.,vol.32,iss.1.