Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus diet in an area recently colonized in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula / Dieta de l'Esparver d'espatlles negres Elanus caeruleus en una regió de recent colonització al nord-est de la península Ibèrica

The diet of the Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus is analysed in a recently colonized area in Catalonia, NE Spain. Results are based on the analysis of 342 pellets collected in the period after fledging at four nest sites in western Catalonia, in 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2004. Altogether 512 prey items were identified. The results show a diet based on small mammals, mainly voles and mice, which account for 64.4-95.3% of prey. Nonetheless, birds, mainly passeriformes, amount to as much as 4.8-30.3% of prey. The number of fledglings per nest was found to be positively correlated with the percentage of voles in the diet, supporting the idea of high vole specialization by this kite in southern Europe