Frugivory in Raptors: New Observations from Australia and a Global Review
The diets of raptors are some of the best studied and well-known of all bird groups. Raptors are typically carnivores, hunting and feeding on vertebrates and, for some species, invertebrates. Here, we described instances of the Black Kite (<i>Milvus migrans</i>) and Whistling Kite (<i...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Birds |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/2/4/25 |
| _version_ | 1827600432130686976 |
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| author | James A. Fitzsimons Jack Leighton |
| author_facet | James A. Fitzsimons Jack Leighton |
| author_sort | James A. Fitzsimons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The diets of raptors are some of the best studied and well-known of all bird groups. Raptors are typically carnivores, hunting and feeding on vertebrates and, for some species, invertebrates. Here, we described instances of the Black Kite (<i>Milvus migrans</i>) and Whistling Kite (<i>Haliastur sphenurus</i>) consuming non-native avocado (<i>Persea americana</i>) fruit in commercial orchards in northern Australia, over multiple years. This appears to be the first instance of frugivory by raptors in Australia. We review instances of frugivory for other raptor species globally. This review finds that 29 species of raptor from the families Falconidae, Accipitridae and Cathartidae have been recorded consuming fruit, significantly more than previous reviews. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:35:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f900508fee448e88629780ede414832 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6004 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:35:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Birds |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f900508fee448e88629780ede4148322023-12-03T13:28:38ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042021-10-012433835010.3390/birds2040025Frugivory in Raptors: New Observations from Australia and a Global ReviewJames A. Fitzsimons0Jack Leighton1The Nature Conservancy, Suite 2-01, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053, AustraliaTinaroo Waters Productions, Kairi, QLD 4872, AustraliaThe diets of raptors are some of the best studied and well-known of all bird groups. Raptors are typically carnivores, hunting and feeding on vertebrates and, for some species, invertebrates. Here, we described instances of the Black Kite (<i>Milvus migrans</i>) and Whistling Kite (<i>Haliastur sphenurus</i>) consuming non-native avocado (<i>Persea americana</i>) fruit in commercial orchards in northern Australia, over multiple years. This appears to be the first instance of frugivory by raptors in Australia. We review instances of frugivory for other raptor species globally. This review finds that 29 species of raptor from the families Falconidae, Accipitridae and Cathartidae have been recorded consuming fruit, significantly more than previous reviews.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/2/4/25raptorfrugivoryfruitdietavocado<i>Persea americana</i> |
| spellingShingle | James A. Fitzsimons Jack Leighton Frugivory in Raptors: New Observations from Australia and a Global Review Birds raptor frugivory fruit diet avocado <i>Persea americana</i> |
| title | Frugivory in Raptors: New Observations from Australia and a Global Review |
| title_full | Frugivory in Raptors: New Observations from Australia and a Global Review |
| title_fullStr | Frugivory in Raptors: New Observations from Australia and a Global Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frugivory in Raptors: New Observations from Australia and a Global Review |
| title_short | Frugivory in Raptors: New Observations from Australia and a Global Review |
| title_sort | frugivory in raptors new observations from australia and a global review |
| topic | raptor frugivory fruit diet avocado <i>Persea americana</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/2/4/25 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jamesafitzsimons frugivoryinraptorsnewobservationsfromaustraliaandaglobalreview AT jackleighton frugivoryinraptorsnewobservationsfromaustraliaandaglobalreview |