Bird prey taken by British owls

Abstract

How important is bird prey as a constituent of the diet of the five widespread British owls—Barn Owl Tyto alba, Little Owl Athene noctua, Long-eared Owl Asio otus, Short-eared Owl A. flammeus and Tawny Owl Strix aluco? What range of bird prey are these five owls capable of taking? To what extent do birds vary with season and habitat as prey items in the diet? Are game-birds or domestic fowls important constituents of the diet of any species of owl? These questions are discussed below by reference to the findings of the B.T.O.’s Avian Predator Food Survey, which is currently documenting the diets of Britain’s birds of prey through the analysis of pellets and identification of prey remains at nest sites. © 1972 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.