Predation of Two Species of Columbidae by the Burrowing Owl Athene Cunicularia (Strigiformes, Strigidae) in Urban Environment

Predation of Two Species of Columbidae by the Burrowing Owl Athene Cunicularia (Strigiformes, Strigidae) in Urban Environment | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Short Report Predation of Two Species of Columbidae by the Burrowing Owl Athene Cunicularia (Strigiformes, Strigidae) in Urban Environment Gabriela Carlos Mendes, Priscilla Esclarski, Cláudio Henrique Zawadzki This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4551723/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 10 Sep, 2024 Read the published version in Ornithology Research → Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The burrowing owl Athene cunicularia is a species known for its adaptation to urban environments, being able to adjust their behaviors according to environmental conditions. This work reports the records of predation of two species of columbids by Athene cunicularia . 63 burrowing owl nests were monitored in the state of Paraná between June 2022 and July 2023. The identification of predated species occurred through direct observation at the time of predation and by comparison between wings and feathers found in the owls’ nests with pictures of the suspected species. Both Columba livia and Zenaida auriculata were registered, counting seven records. Six occurred in different points of the study area, while one occurred in the state of Roraima. The predation of these birds by Athene cunicularia should not be isolated cases, as they cohabit urban areas. Our data highlights the species' adjustment to the urban environment since the domestic pigeon is not part of its known diet and has about 146.1% of the owl’s body mass, reinforcing the importance of Athene cunicularia in urban environments as it controls the populations of species that can be harmful to humans. Brazil Dietary flexibility First record Plasticity Urban adjustment Figures Figure 1 Introduction Bids are one of the most diverse animals, with approximately 10,000 species that can be found in a variety of environments, including, more recently, urban areas (Newton 2003; Gill 2006). Amongst these species, the burrowing owl Athene cunicularia stands out, currently found throughout the Brazilian territory and considered a colonizing species of this environment (Mueller et al. 2018; WikiAves 2024). The species occupies environments with different levels of urbanization, such as airports, schools, public squares, bus terminals, cemeteries and vacant lots (Haug et al. 1993). Their success in this environment stems mainly from the ability to live in open areas with short vegetation, the higher tolerance to humans and the generalist condition (Cavalli et al. 2016; Rebolo-Ifrán et al. 2017). Other species are also considered successful in urban areas, as Zenaida auriculata and Columba livia , found in abundance alongside A. cunicularia in Brazil (Abilhoa & Amorin 2017). With owls being natural predators of other birds, there are several registers available on freely accessible platforms where it’s possible to find large and medium-sized owls preying on Columba livia , but not small-sized owls as A. cunicularia (Dechillo 1986; Choosypix 2015; CGB 2021). This work reports the records of predation of two Columbidae species by Athene cunicularia , including the first record of predation on Columba livia . Methods The records were obtained from the monitoring of 63 Athene cunicularia nests between June 2022 and July 2023 in the cities of Maringá and Apucarana, in southern Brazil in the state of Paraná. In addition to these, another occurrence was recorded in the country’s North region, in the state of Roraima in December 2021. The nests were mainly located in urban areas, especially in residential neighborhoods, vacant lots and close to areas frequented by humans. The owls and their prey were recorded using the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H400 semi-professional camera and cell phones, as well Nikon Monarch M511 10x42 binoculars. The identification of the preyed species was carried out by comparing photographic records of the remains of feathers or wings found near or in the owls' nest and confirmed through records of feathers on the websites WikiAves (2022), Feather Base (2023) and on The Feather Atlas (USFWS 2023). Results And Discussion Among the 63 monitored nests, six records of Columbidae predation were recorded, being one in Apucarana and five in Maringá. The species recorded were Zenaida auriculata and Columba livia , with a total number of four records of Columba livia and three records of Zenaida auriculata . In addition to that, another record was registered in Roraima. The first record of C. livia predation by A. cunicularia occurred in December 2021, in a residential neighborhood in Roraima (2°51'40.4"N 60°39'46.8"W). Part of its wing was found at the entrance of A. cunicularia nest (Figure 1A). The nest with the highest predation rate of columbids was the nest on the campus of the State University of Maringá, in Maringá (23°24'16.2"S 51°56'13.6"W). It’s located next to one of the classroom blocks, where it’s possible to see the roof structure where a flock of C. livia uses as a shelter and reproductive site, right above the A. cunicularia nest. At this point, three occurrences of predation on C. livia by owls were recorded, however, it was only possible to obtain a photographic record on one of these occasions (Figure 1B). The records were carried out between July 2022 and July 2023. The first record of Z. auriculata occurred at a military police school in Maringá (Figure 1C, additional data are given in Online Resource 1), when the students recorded the capture of Z. auriculata by A . cunicularia in October 2022 (23°26'37.0"S 51°56'19.1"W). An adult owl was seen capturing the columbid in flight and then taking it to the nest. The owl's capture of the bird was easy, succeeding on the first attempt. The second register occurred in the middle of a busy public square in the city of Apucarana (23°33'11.1"S 51°27'53.3"W). The predation of Z. auriculata was recorded through the remains of a wing found nearby the owl’s nest entrance in July 2023 (Figure 1D). The last register was made in August 2023 on the lawn of the Maringá Urban Intermodal Terminal. A wing and some feathers of Z. auriculata were found at the burrowing owl nest entrance (Figure 1E). The nest was located in one of the most urbanized points among the monitored nests (23°25'03.0"S 51°56'17.1"W). The capacity of adjustment in the diet of owls, especially in anthropic environments, is a known phenomenon (Silva-Porto & Cerqueira 1990; Dravecký & Obuch 2009; Grzędzicka & Kus 2013; Hindmarch & Elliot 2015; Gryz & Krauze-Gryz 2019). The advantage of the generalist condition for birds includes the wide variety of prey that can be consumed according to availability, as described for Tyto alba by Hindmarch & Elliot (2015), where Microtus townsendii were the main prey in urban environments and rural, however, the diet was supplemented mainly with rats ( Rattus sp.) in the urban environment and by shrews ( Sorex sp.) in the rural environment. Although invertebrates are found numerically more frequently in the diet of A. cunicularia , vertebrates constitute the majority of the biomass, with small mammals being the most consumed vertebrates (Green et al. 1993; Silva et al. 1995; Littles et al. 2007; Floate et al. 2008). It’s not common to find large percentages of birds in A. cunicularia diet studies. Rocha et al. (2021) analyzed the species' diet and observed that among the 895 vertebrates preyed upon by the burrowing owl, only 46 were birds (5.1%). Other authors have found even lower percentages of birds in their diets in a protected area in Argentina, Nabtea et al. (2008) described birds as 0.6% of the diet of A. cunicularia , while in an urban area in California, birds constituted only 0.3% of their diet (Trulio & Higgins 2012). The results of Wiley (1998) are considered atypical, as the author found that in the Dominican Republic, the contribution of vertebrates to the diet of A. cunicularia presented a higher proportion than in other areas already studied (47%), being birds (28.3%) and reptiles (14.9%) the main components. The two species of columbids recorded in this work are considerably different. Zenaida auriculata weighs approximately 180 g with a 16 cm wingspan, while Columba livia is 38 has a 61 cm wingspan, weighing approximately 298 g (Sick 1997; Suasner 2014; Aslam et al. 2021). In comparison, Athene cunicularia has a wingspan of up to 61 cm and a weight of up to 240 g (Konig & Weick 2008), so Z. auriculata has around 80.8% of the owl's body mass, while C. livia has about 146.1%. Comay & Dayan (2018) described the size of the prey as an important factor on prey selection by owls, as well as taxon specialization by the predator. In a study of the species' diet carried out by Bowman (2020), a columbid is mentioned as part of the diet of A. cunicularia , Columbina passerina , one of the smallest columbids in the Americas. Regarding Z. auriculata , there are records of predation by Glaucidium brasilianum , a small owl that weighs around 70 g (Konig & Weick 2008), by Megascops choliba , Asio stygius , Asio clamator , Tyto alba and also by A. cunicularia (Trejo et al. 2005; Bencke 2011; Mendes 2011; Mergulhão 2012; Riaño et al. 2017; Restrepo-Cardona et al. 2021). In the literature and in audiovisual records accessible on the internet, records of predation of C. livia by two species of owls of the genus Bubo are found: Bubo bubo and B. scandiacus (Gross 1944; Lourenço 2006), this being a genus composed of large owls. There are also records of predation on C. livia by medium-sized owls, such as Strix uralensis , Strix aluco , Strix mauritanica and Tyto alba (Smith et al. 1972; Galeotti et al. 1991; Dravecký & Obuch 2009; Cherkaoui et al. 2021), however, this is the first record in the literature of predation of C. livia by A. cunicularia , a species considered small (Konig & Weick 2008). Conclusion This article highlights the plasticity of Athene cunicularia to the urban environment. The existing records so far show that pigeons were consumed mainly by large owls, and now, they can be mentioned as prey for owls of all sizes. Owls are known opportunistic birds so due to the abundance of C. livia and Z . auriculata in the same environments as A . cunicularia , these may not be isolated cases. This fact also reinforces the importance of A. cunicularia in urban environments, as the owl controls the population of species that can occasionally be harmful to humans. Declarations Funding Declaration The research leading to these results received funding from the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES) under Grant Agreement No 88887.713751/2022-00. Competing Interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Data Availability Statement The author confirms that all data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its Supplementary Information. References Abilhoa V, Amorin R (2017) Effects of urbanization on the avian community in a southern Brazilian city . Brazilian Journal of Ornithology , 25(1), 31-39. Aslam MW, Wajid M, Waheed A, Ahmad S, Jafar K, Akmal H, Khan MS (2021) Revision of some mensural measurements, food preference, and haematological parameters in breeding pairs of blue rock pigeon, Columba livia sampled from punjab Pakistan. Brazilian Journal of Biology , 83. Bencke GA (2011) [WA3966949, Asio stygius (Wagler, 1832)]. 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Urban Ecosystems , 18, 477-488. König C, Weick F (2008) Owls of the world. 2nd ed. Londres: A&C Black Littles CJ, Williford D, Skoruppa MK, Woodin MC, Hickman GC (2007) Diet of western burrowing owls wintering in southern Texas. Journal of Raptor Research , 41(4), 307-313. Lourenço R (2006) The food habits of Eurasian eagle-owls in Southern Portugal. Journal of Raptor Research , 40(4), 297-300. Mendes AB (2011) [WA474866, Megascops choliba (Vieillot, 1817)]. WikiAves - A Enciclopédia das Aves do Brasil. Disponível em http://www.wikiaves.com/474866 [Accessed 13 September 2023] Mergulhão S (2012) [WA707489, Athene cunicularia (Molina, 1782)]. Wiki Aves - A Enciclopédia das Aves do Brasil. Disponível em: http://www.wikiaves.com/707489 [Accessed 13 September 2023] Mueller JC, Kuhl H, Boerno S, Tella JL, Carrete M, Kempenaers B (2018) Evolution of genomic variation in the burrowing owl in response to recent colonization of urban areas. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , 285(1878), 20180206. Newton I. Speciation and biogeography of birds . Academic Press, 2003. Rebolo-Ifrán N, Tella JL, Carrete M (2017) Urban conservation hotspots: predation release allows the grassland-specialist burrowing owl to perform better in the city. Scientific Reports , 7(1), 3527. Restrepo-Cardona JS, Ocampo-Velásquez JD, Delgado A, Mikkola H, Rodríguez-Villamil DR (2021) Feeding habits of the Stygian Owl ( Asio stygius ) and the Short-eared Owl ( A. flammeus ) in the southwest of Bogotá savanna, cundinamarca, Colombia. Ornitología Neotropical , 32, 89-93. Riaño J, Paqui MF, Córdoba-Córdoba S, Sánchez F (2017) Nest and chicks of Pseudoscops clamator (Aves: Strigidae) in the highland plateau of the Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia. Acta Biológica Colombiana , 22(1), 105-109. Rocha AD, Branco JO, Barrilli GHC (2021) Prey ecology of the burrowing owl Athene cunicularia cunicularia (Molina, 1782) on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment , 57(3), 283-290. Sick H (1997) Ornitologia brasileira. 3ª edição, Rio de Janeiro, Nova Fronteira. Silva-Porto F, Cerqueira R (1990) Seasonal variation in the diet of the burrowing owl Athene cunicularia in a restinga of Rio de Janeiro State. Ciência & Cultura , 42, 1182-1186. Silva SI, Lazo I, Silva-Aranguiz E, Jaksic FM, Meserve PL, Gutierrez JR (1995) Numerical and functional response of burrowing owls to long-term mammal fluctuations in Chile. Journal of Raptor Research , 29 (4):250-255. Smith DG, Wilson CR, Frost HH (1972) Seasonal food habits of barn owls in Utah. The Great Basin Naturalist , 229-234. Trejo A, Kun M, Sahores M, Seijas S (2005) Diet overlap and prey size of two owls in the forest-steppe ecotone of southern Argentina. 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Supplementary Files ESM1.mp4.mp4 Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 10 Sep, 2024 Read the published version in Ornithology Research → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 05 Aug, 2024 Reviews received at journal 13 Jul, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Jul, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Jul, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 18 Jun, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 18 Jun, 2024 First submitted to journal 08 Jun, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4551723","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Short Report","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":321864057,"identity":"19cec481-aadb-421f-ac39-fc3ed028d3f6","order_by":0,"name":"Gabriela Carlos Mendes","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"State University of Maringá","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gabriela","middleName":"Carlos","lastName":"Mendes","suffix":""},{"id":321864058,"identity":"bb911db2-a75b-40c7-9f07-ecde65fb4f56","order_by":1,"name":"Priscilla Esclarski","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidade Federal de Viçosa","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Priscilla","middleName":"","lastName":"Esclarski","suffix":""},{"id":321864059,"identity":"0597ac57-5c7e-4290-bfae-459380915af0","order_by":2,"name":"Cláudio Henrique Zawadzki","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"State University of Maringá","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Cláudio","middleName":"Henrique","lastName":"Zawadzki","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-06-08 19:53:18","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4551723/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4551723/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-024-00204-1","type":"published","date":"2024-09-10T15:57:05+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":60435668,"identity":"f84a29c0-dec4-44cd-a6af-b7d2a5a84921","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-16 17:25:12","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":4426652,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColumbids preyed by\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Athene cunicularia\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e (a) \u003cem\u003eColumba livia\u003c/em\u003e wing found at the entrance of \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e nest in Roraima (b) Feathers of \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e in the nest of \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e at the State University of Maringá (c) \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e capturing \u003cem\u003eZenaida auriculata\u003c/em\u003e at the military school in Maringá (d) Wing of \u003cem\u003eZ. auriculata\u003c/em\u003e found\u003cem\u003e \u003c/em\u003ein Apucarana (e) Wing and feathers of \u003cem\u003eZ. auriculata\u003c/em\u003e found at the Urban Intermodal Terminal of Maringá\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4551723/v1/4e2f0c2f30869d95a7897df5.png"},{"id":64618965,"identity":"9e322bb1-74fd-42fa-b953-898094ed9a49","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-09-16 16:09:22","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":5937341,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4551723/v1/c714bf5f-debc-4302-8473-9a2bbc047056.pdf"},{"id":60435669,"identity":"7afa4193-7f6a-4a47-be21-53027a39f22b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-16 17:25:12","extension":"mp4","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":10510986,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ESM1.mp4.mp4","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4551723/v1/72d3a653e2c2c097fa429d4a.mp4"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003ePredation of Two Species of Columbidae by the Burrowing Owl Athene Cunicularia (Strigiformes, Strigidae) in Urban Environment\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eBids are one of the most diverse animals, with approximately 10,000 species that can be found in a variety of environments, including, more recently, urban areas (Newton 2003; Gill 2006). Amongst these species, the burrowing owl \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e stands out, currently found throughout the Brazilian territory and considered a colonizing species of this environment (Mueller et al. 2018; WikiAves 2024).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe species occupies environments with different levels of urbanization, such as airports, schools, public squares, bus terminals, cemeteries and vacant lots (Haug et al. 1993). Their success in this environment stems mainly from the ability to live in open areas with short vegetation, the higher tolerance to humans and the generalist condition (Cavalli et al. 2016; Rebolo-Ifr\u0026aacute;n et al. 2017). Other species are also considered successful in urban areas, as \u003cem\u003eZenaida auriculata\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eColumba livia\u003c/em\u003e, found in abundance alongside \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e in Brazil (Abilhoa \u0026amp; Amorin 2017).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;With owls being natural predators of other birds, there are several registers available on freely accessible platforms where it\u0026rsquo;s possible to find large and medium-sized owls preying on \u003cem\u003eColumba livia\u003c/em\u003e, but not small-sized owls as \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e (Dechillo 1986; Choosypix 2015; CGB 2021). This work reports the records of predation of two Columbidae species by \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e, including the first record of predation on \u003cem\u003eColumba livia\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe records were obtained from the monitoring of 63 \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003enests between June 2022 and July 2023 in the cities of Maring\u0026aacute; and Apucarana, in southern Brazil in the state of Paran\u0026aacute;. In addition to these, another occurrence was recorded in the country\u0026rsquo;s North region, in the state of Roraima in December 2021. The nests were mainly located in urban areas, especially in residential neighborhoods, vacant lots and close to areas frequented by humans. The owls and their prey were recorded using the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H400 semi-professional camera and cell phones, as well Nikon Monarch M511 10x42 binoculars. The identification of the preyed species was carried out by comparing photographic records of the remains of feathers or wings found near or in the owls\u0026apos; nest and confirmed through records of feathers on the websites WikiAves (2022), Feather Base (2023) and on The Feather Atlas (USFWS 2023).\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"header":"Results And Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eAmong the 63 monitored nests, six records of Columbidae predation were recorded, being one in Apucarana and five in Maring\u0026aacute;. The species recorded were \u003cem\u003eZenaida auriculata\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eColumba livia\u003c/em\u003e, with a total number of four records of \u003cem\u003eColumba livia\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eand three records of \u003cem\u003eZenaida auriculata\u003c/em\u003e. In addition to that, another record was registered in Roraima.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first record of \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e predation by \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e occurred in December 2021, in a residential neighborhood in Roraima (2\u0026deg;51\u0026apos;40.4\u0026quot;N 60\u0026deg;39\u0026apos;46.8\u0026quot;W). Part of its wing was found at the entrance of \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e nest (Figure 1A). The nest with the highest predation rate of columbids was the nest on the campus of the State University of Maring\u0026aacute;, in Maring\u0026aacute; (23\u0026deg;24\u0026apos;16.2\u0026quot;S 51\u0026deg;56\u0026apos;13.6\u0026quot;W). It\u0026rsquo;s located next to one of the classroom blocks, where it\u0026rsquo;s possible to see the roof structure where a flock of \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e uses as a shelter and reproductive site, right above the \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e nest. At this point, three occurrences of predation on \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e by owls were recorded, however, it was only possible to obtain a photographic record on one of these occasions (Figure 1B). The records were carried out between July 2022 and July 2023.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first record of \u003cem\u003eZ. auriculata\u003c/em\u003e occurred at a military police school in Maring\u0026aacute; (Figure 1C, additional data are given in Online Resource 1), when the students recorded the capture of\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;Z. auriculata\u003c/em\u003e by \u003cem\u003eA\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003ecunicularia\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003ein October 2022 (23\u0026deg;26\u0026apos;37.0\u0026quot;S 51\u0026deg;56\u0026apos;19.1\u0026quot;W). An adult owl was seen capturing the columbid in flight and then taking it to the nest. The owl\u0026apos;s capture of the bird was easy, succeeding on the first attempt. The second register occurred in the middle of a busy public square in the city of Apucarana (23\u0026deg;33\u0026apos;11.1\u0026quot;S 51\u0026deg;27\u0026apos;53.3\u0026quot;W). The predation of \u003cem\u003eZ. auriculata\u003c/em\u003e was recorded through the remains of a wing found nearby the owl\u0026rsquo;s nest entrance in July 2023 (Figure 1D). The last register was made in August 2023 on the lawn of the Maring\u0026aacute; Urban Intermodal Terminal. A wing and some feathers of \u003cem\u003eZ. auriculata\u003c/em\u003e were found at the burrowing owl nest entrance (Figure 1E). The nest was located in one of the most urbanized points among the monitored nests (23\u0026deg;25\u0026apos;03.0\u0026quot;S 51\u0026deg;56\u0026apos;17.1\u0026quot;W).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe capacity of adjustment in the diet of owls, especially in anthropic environments, is a known phenomenon (Silva-Porto \u0026amp; Cerqueira 1990; Draveck\u0026yacute; \u0026amp; Obuch 2009; Grzędzicka \u0026amp; Kus 2013; Hindmarch \u0026amp; Elliot 2015;\u0026nbsp;Gryz \u0026amp; Krauze-Gryz 2019). The advantage of the generalist condition for birds includes the wide variety of prey that can be consumed according to availability, as described for \u003cem\u003eTyto alba\u003c/em\u003e by Hindmarch \u0026amp; Elliot (2015), where \u003cem\u003eMicrotus townsendii\u003c/em\u003e were the main prey in urban environments and rural, however, the diet was supplemented mainly with rats (\u003cem\u003eRattus\u003c/em\u003e sp.) in the urban environment and by shrews (\u003cem\u003eSorex\u003c/em\u003e sp.) in the rural environment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough invertebrates are found numerically more frequently in the diet of \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e, vertebrates constitute the majority of the biomass, with small mammals being the most consumed vertebrates (Green et al. 1993; Silva et al. 1995; Littles et al. 2007; Floate et al. 2008). It\u0026rsquo;s not common to find large percentages of birds in \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e diet studies. Rocha et al. (2021) analyzed the species\u0026apos; diet and observed that among the 895 vertebrates preyed upon by the burrowing owl, only 46 were birds (5.1%). Other authors have found even lower percentages of birds in their diets in a protected area in Argentina, Nabtea et al. (2008) described birds as 0.6% of the diet of \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e, while in an urban area in California, birds constituted only 0.3% of their diet (Trulio \u0026amp; Higgins 2012). The results of Wiley (1998) are considered atypical, as the author found that in the Dominican Republic, the contribution of vertebrates to the diet of \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e presented a higher proportion than in other areas already studied (47%), being birds (28.3%) and reptiles (14.9%) the main components.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two species of columbids recorded in this work are considerably different. \u003cem\u003eZenaida auriculata\u003c/em\u003e weighs approximately 180 g with a 16 cm wingspan, while \u003cem\u003eColumba livia\u003c/em\u003e is 38 has a 61 cm wingspan, weighing approximately 298 g (Sick 1997; Suasner 2014; Aslam et al. 2021). In comparison, \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e has a wingspan of up to 61 cm and a weight of up to 240 g (Konig \u0026amp; Weick 2008), so \u003cem\u003eZ. auriculata\u003c/em\u003e has around 80.8% of the owl\u0026apos;s body mass, while \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e has about 146.1%. Comay \u0026amp; Dayan (2018) described the size of the prey as an important factor on prey selection by owls, as well as taxon specialization by the predator.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a study of the species\u0026apos; diet carried out by Bowman (2020), a columbid is mentioned as part of the diet of \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eColumbina passerina\u003c/em\u003e, one of the smallest columbids in the Americas. Regarding \u003cem\u003eZ. auriculata\u003c/em\u003e, there are records of predation by \u003cem\u003eGlaucidium brasilianum\u003c/em\u003e, a small owl that weighs around 70 g (Konig \u0026amp; Weick 2008), by \u003cem\u003eMegascops choliba\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAsio stygius\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAsio clamator\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eTyto alba\u003c/em\u003e and also by \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e (Trejo et al. 2005; Bencke 2011; Mendes 2011; Mergulh\u0026atilde;o 2012; Ria\u0026ntilde;o et al. 2017; Restrepo-Cardona et al. 2021). In the literature and in audiovisual records accessible on the internet, records of predation of \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e by two species of owls of the genus \u003cem\u003eBubo\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eare found: \u003cem\u003eBubo bubo\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eB. scandiacus\u003c/em\u003e (Gross 1944; Louren\u0026ccedil;o 2006), this being a genus composed of large owls. There are also records of predation on \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e by medium-sized owls, such as \u003cem\u003eStrix uralensis\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eStrix aluco\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eStrix mauritanica\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eTyto alba\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Smith et al. 1972; Galeotti et al. 1991; Draveck\u0026yacute; \u0026amp; Obuch 2009; Cherkaoui et al. 2021), however, this is the first record in the literature of predation of \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e by \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e, a species considered small (Konig \u0026amp; Weick 2008).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis article highlights the plasticity of \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e to the urban environment. The existing records so far show that pigeons were consumed mainly by large owls, and now, they can be mentioned as prey for owls of all sizes. Owls are known opportunistic birds so due to the abundance of \u003cem\u003eC. livia\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eZ\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eauriculata\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003ein the same environments as \u003cem\u003eA\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003ecunicularia\u003c/em\u003e, these may not be isolated cases. This fact also reinforces the importance of \u003cem\u003eA. cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e in urban environments, as the owl controls the population of species that can occasionally be harmful to humans.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding Declaration\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe research leading to these results received funding from\u0026nbsp;the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES) under Grant Agreement No 88887.713751/2022-00.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting Interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability Statement\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author confirms that all data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its Supplementary Information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbilhoa V, Amorin R (2017) Effects of urbanization on the avian community in a southern Brazilian city\u003cem\u003e. 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IDENTIFY FEATHER TOOL. The Feather Atlas. 2023. Dispon\u0026iacute;vel em https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php [Accessed 13 September 2023]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWIKIAVES (2022) [\u003cem\u003eColumbidae\u003c/em\u003e]. WikiAves, a Enciclop\u0026eacute;dia das Aves do Brasil. Dispon\u0026iacute;vel em https://www.wikiaves.com.br/wiki/columbidae [Accessed 6 September 2023]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWIKIAVES (2024) [Mapa de registros da esp\u0026eacute;cie coruja-buraqueira (\u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e)]. WikiAves, a Enciclop\u0026eacute;dia das Aves do Brasil. Dispon\u0026iacute;vel em https://www.wikiaves.com.br/mapaRegistros_coruja-buraqueira [Accessed 6 May 2024]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWiley JW (1998) Breeding-season food habits of burrowing owls (\u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e) in southwestern Dominican Republic. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Raptor Research\u003c/em\u003e, 32(3):241-245.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"ornithology-research","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"orni","sideBox":"Learn more about [Ornithology Research](https://link.springer.com/journal/43388)","snPcode":"43388","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/43388/3","title":"Ornithology Research","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Brazil, Dietary flexibility, First record, Plasticity, Urban adjustment","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4551723/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4551723/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe burrowing owl \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e is a species known for its adaptation to urban environments, being able to adjust their behaviors according to environmental conditions. This work reports the records of predation of two species of columbids by \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e. 63 burrowing owl nests were monitored in the state of Paran\u0026aacute; between June 2022 and July 2023. The identification of predated species occurred through direct observation at the time of predation and by comparison between wings and feathers found in the owls\u0026rsquo; nests with pictures of the suspected species. Both \u003cem\u003eColumba livia\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eZenaida auriculata\u003c/em\u003e were registered, counting seven records. Six occurred in different points of the study area, while one occurred in the state of Roraima. The predation of these birds by \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e should not be isolated cases, as they cohabit urban areas. Our data highlights the species' adjustment to the urban environment since the domestic pigeon is not part of its known diet and has about 146.1% of the owl\u0026rsquo;s body mass, reinforcing the importance of \u003cem\u003eAthene cunicularia\u003c/em\u003e in urban environments as it controls the populations of species that can be harmful to humans.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Predation of Two Species of Columbidae by the Burrowing Owl Athene Cunicularia (Strigiformes, Strigidae) in Urban Environment","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-07-16 17:25:07","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4551723/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2024-08-05T11:58:11+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-07-13T16:45:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"7572787256585624888470862720669245042","date":"2024-07-02T17:45:40+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-07-02T13:23:18+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-06-18T05:29:51+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-06-18T05:28:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Ornithology Research","date":"2024-06-08T19:43:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"ornithology-research","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"orni","sideBox":"Learn more about [Ornithology Research](https://link.springer.com/journal/43388)","snPcode":"43388","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/43388/3","title":"Ornithology Research","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"4ea2962a-aec4-4fa1-98e9-1c95fff8688b","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 16th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-09-16T15:59:41+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-4551723","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-024-00204-1","journal":{"identity":"ornithology-research","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Ornithology Research"},"publishedOn":"2024-09-10 15:57:05","publishedOnDateReadable":"September 10th, 2024"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-07-16 17:25:07","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s43388-024-00204-1","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-024-00204-1","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4551723","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4551723","identity":"rs-4551723","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}