Abstract
Abstract The diet composition of Pharaoh Eagle Owl (Bubo ascalaphus) was investigated in a semiarid area of North-western Algeria. A total of 65 pellets regurgitated by the B. ascalaphus were analysed, 288 food items were composed primarily of mammal remains (4 rodents, 1 bat and insectivore, 93.7%), and 1 bird species (passerine, 6.3%). The most frequent prey among the mammals were rodents (83.3%), which included Mus musculus (59.7%), Meriones shawi (11.1%), Meriones libycus (11.1%) and Jaculus jaculus (1.4%). The rodents were the most important prey items in biomass (91.4%), M. shawi made up to 41.9% of the total biomass. We may conclude that the Pharaoh Eagle Owl relies, in its feeding, very broadly on small mammals, completed by other groups.
Highlights
The Pharaoh Eagle Owl Bubo ascalaphus is largely distributed, its range extend from Northern Africa to the Middle East (Mohedano et al 2014)
The diet of the Pharaoh Eagle Owl is poorly known compared to its European counterpart, the Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo (Sándor & Orbán 2008)
It has long been speculated that the Pharaoh Eagle Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl differ in ecology and behaviour
Summary
The Pharaoh Eagle Owl Bubo ascalaphus is largely distributed, its range extend from Northern Africa to the Middle East (Mohedano et al 2014). This owl inhabits rocky mountain slopes in deserts and semi-deserts, but is found in dry savannas, and locally endangered by human persecution, but its overall status is not known (Mikkola 2014). Unlike its northern counterpart, little is known about the food habits of B. ascalaphus (Mohedano et al 2014). This owl eats mammals, birds and reptiles, and scorpions and larger insects (Mikkola 2014)
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