Predation by Geoffroy's Cat on Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl in Caldén Semiarid Forest, ArgentinaNo Access

MIGUEL Á. SANTILLÁN; ANDREA S. COSTÁN; JUAN I. ZANÓN MARTÍNEZ

JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH

RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

Lugar: Lawrence, Kansas; Año: 2014 vol. 48 p. 192 - 193

0892-1016

The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) has a broad geographic distribution, occurring from the southwestern United States to Central America and South America (Holt et al. 1999, Proudfoot and Johnson 2000). It is found in a variety of habitats from tropical and subtropical dry forest to semiarid open forest; it nests in natural cavities and is active diurnally (Proudfoot and Johnson 2000). Predation of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl nestlings by raccoons (Procyon lotor) and fledglings by raptors (Harris?s Hawk [Parabuteo unicinctus], Cooper?s Hawk [Accipiter cooperii] and Great Horned Owl [Bubo virginianus]) and possibly also by bobcat (Lynx rufus) and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) has been documented in North America (Proudfoot and Johnson 2000). Here we present the first predation record of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl by Geoffroy?s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi). From 2010 to 2012, we examined the diet of Geoffroy?s cat in Parque Luro Nature Reserve (36u559S, 64u169W) in east-central La Pampa province, Argentina. Parque Luro Nature Reserve is within the Espinal phytogeographic province; it includes calde´n semiarid forest, sand grassland and salt deposits (Cabrera 1994). The reserve is dominated by the calde´n tree (Prosopis caldenia) and has an area of 7600 ha. The caldén forest provides adequate food and nesting cavities, and has abundant Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls, which are commonly seen on the reserve (Campioni et al. 2013). We analyzed a total of 87 Geoffroy?s cat scats. Prey were primarily rodent species and Eared Doves (Zenaida auriculata). However, we also found the bill of a fledgling or subadult Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl in a scat, evidence that this small owl is prey of Geoffroy?s cat. There are no previous reports of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl predation by Geoffroy?s cat in South America (Wilson andMittermeier 2009, Pereira et al. 2012). Information on the food habits of Geoffroy?s cat is limited, but its diet appears to consist largely of small rodents and birds (Sunquist and Sunquinst 2002). Liébana (2008) reported predation of American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) nestlings from nest boxes by Geoffroy?s cat in Parque Luro Nature Reserve, which is further evidence that Geoffroy?s cat occasionally preys on cavity-nesting raptors.