Cannibalism of nestling American kestrels by their parents and siblings

Abstract

For Falco sparverius studied in N-central Saskatchewan, cannibalism occurred at 8% of 48 nests in 1988, and 18% of 92 nests in 1989. Not all nestlings that died were cannibalized. Where nestling mortality occurred, carcasses were eaten in at least 20% of nests in 1988, and 63% of nests in 1989. Abundance of small mammal prey was inversely related to the frequence of cannibalism between years, and there were fewer prey and lower prey delivery rates in territories where cannibalism occurred. -from Authors