Communal roosting behavior and winter diet of the White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) in an agricultural habitat on the Argentine pampas

SARASOLA, J.H.; SOLARO, C.; SANTILLAN, M.A.; GALMES, M.A.

JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH

RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

Año: 2010 vol. 44 p. 202 - 207

0892-1016

Although the White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) is widely distributed through the Americas, winter communal roosting has been recorded only in the Neartic portion of its range. As a result, information on food habits of the White-tailed Kite in South America during the non-breeding season is scarce and, when available, limited to pellets from solitary individuals. Here we report the communal roosting behavior and the winter diet of White-tailed Kites in an agricultural habitat on the Argentine pampas based on information gathered over three consecutive years (2006 – 2008). From May to July of each year, we observed an average of 11 (± SD = 2.8) kites roosting in a grove of Eucalyptus viminalis. Prior to roosting, kites gathered in a tall, dead, and leafless Eucalyptus tree before flying to more densely foliated trees where they spent the night. The diet of kites during winter was almost entirely composed of small mammals, mainly Calomys sp. and Akodon azarae and they were also the most common species in the rodent community in the area, suggesting opportunistic predation. Due to the current process of agricultural intensification in the Argentine pampas, further studies are needed to gain a complete knowledge of White-tailed Kites in this habitat and of the effects of land-use changes on their foraging behavior and spatial ecology.Elanus leucurus) is widely distributed through the Americas, winter communal roosting has been recorded only in the Neartic portion of its range. As a result, information on food habits of the White-tailed Kite in South America during the non-breeding season is scarce and, when available, limited to pellets from solitary individuals. Here we report the communal roosting behavior and the winter diet of White-tailed Kites in an agricultural habitat on the Argentine pampas based on information gathered over three consecutive years (2006 – 2008). From May to July of each year, we observed an average of 11 (± SD = 2.8) kites roosting in a grove of Eucalyptus viminalis. Prior to roosting, kites gathered in a tall, dead, and leafless Eucalyptus tree before flying to more densely foliated trees where they spent the night. The diet of kites during winter was almost entirely composed of small mammals, mainly Calomys sp. and Akodon azarae and they were also the most common species in the rodent community in the area, suggesting opportunistic predation. Due to the current process of agricultural intensification in the Argentine pampas, further studies are needed to gain a complete knowledge of White-tailed Kites in this habitat and of the effects of land-use changes on their foraging behavior and spatial ecology.