Knowledge of Tropical Birds through Citizen Science Data: Trophic Habit of the Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) (Aves, accipitridae) in the Caatinga And Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Authors: Gomes TV* and Tubelis DP

DOI: 10.23880/izab-16000409

Volume 5, Issue 5

Abstract

Professional ornithologists have been using citizen science data to investigate aspects of the biology of birds around the world. This approach is improving the knowledge of birds in Brazil, including aspects of their feeding ecology. The Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, where it is commonly found in numerous landscapes. Despite this, detailed information on its trophic habit remains scarce and restrict to a few localities. The objective of this study was to examine the trophic habit of the Roadside Hawk in the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest through the use of citizen science data. Searches for photographic records with evidence of feeding activities were done in early 2021 in the WikiAves, the major citizen science project regarding Brazilian birds. Records of Roadside Haws with prey [n = 143] were obtained by citizen scientists along 11 years, and included in this study. Records obtained in the Atlantic Forest [n = 111] were more numerous than those obtained in the Caatinga [n = 32]. Vertebrate prey included animals of four classes: Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia and Amphibia. Invertebrate prey included three classes: Insecta, Arachnida and Clitellata. In both biomes, the number of vertebrate prey was substantially higher than that of invertebrate prey, throughout the year. In the Atlantic Forest, preyed birds and reptiles were significantly more numerous than mammals and amphibians, and invertebrates, in the dry period. A similar pattern was observed in the rainy period, but differences were not significant. In the Caatinga, prey of the classes Aves and Reptilia were the most frequent, followed by those of the classes Amphibia and Mammalia. Invertebrates were uncommon. Therefore, Roadside Hawks feed on similar prey in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Caatinga, with a preference for vertebrates, especially birds and reptiles.

Keywords: Accipitriformes; Birdwatching; Dry Forest; Feeding ecology; Neotropics; Predation

View PDF