European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur diet composition in Southern Spain: the role of wild seeds in Mediterranean forest areas

Abstract

ABSTRACTCapsule: The diet of European Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur in Mediterranean forest contained a large volume of wild plant seed but from a small number of key species.Aims: To determine which seed species are consumed by Turtle Doves in Mediterranean forest areas.Methods: Digestive tract contents were identified and evaluated for 222 Turtle Doves shot by hunters during three consecutive years.Results: Thirty seed species were identified in the diet, but only a few species represented most of the volume and frequency. Wild plant seeds appeared in 65.8% of digestive tracts and showed significant variation between years. Although the main wild seed species consumed each year varied annually, certain species were found in the diet every year in high volume and frequency. Adults showed a more diverse and numerous consumption of wild seeds than did juveniles. Plastic granules were also found in 3.8% of individuals.Conclusion: A greater number of wild seed species was found in the diet in contrast to previous studies performed in farmland. Echium plantagineum and Amaranthus deflexus could be important seed sources for Turtle Doves in Mediterranean forest. Additionally, the herbaceous species found in the diet whose seeds ripen earlier in the season might play an important role in Turtle Dove reproductive performance, since they are frequently the only available food in the first half of the breeding season.