DOCSLIB.ORG

Shouldered Hawk and Aplomado Falcon from Quaternary Asphalt

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Shouldered Hawk and Aplomado Falcon from Quaternary Asphalt MARCH 2003 SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 71 J. RaptorRes. 37(1):71-75 ¸ 2003 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. RED-SHOULDEREDHAWK AND APLOMADO FALCON FROM QUATERNARY ASPHALT DEPOSITS IN CUBA WILLIAM SU•REZ MuseoNacional de Historia Natural, Obispo61, Plaza deArmas; La Habana CP 10100 Cuba STORRS L. OLSON • NationalMuseum of Natural History,Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560 U.S.A. KEYWORDS: AplomadoFalcon; Falco femoralis;Red-shoul- MATERIAL EXAMINED deredHawk; Buteo lineatus;Antilles; Cuba; extinctions; Jbssil Fossils are from the collections of the Museo Nacional birds;Quaternary; West Indies. de Historia Natural, La Habana, Cuba (MNHNCu). Mod- ern comparativeskeletons included specimensof all of The fossil avifauna of Cuba is remarkable for its diver- the speciesof Buteoand Falcoin the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, sity of raptors,some of very large size, both diurnal and DC (USNM). The following specimenswere used tbr the nocturnal (Arredondo 1976, 1984, Su'•rez and Arredon- tables of measurements: Buteo lineatus 16633-16634, do 1997). This diversitycontinues to increase(e.g., Su'•- 17952-17953, 18798, 18846, 18848, 18965, 19108, 19929, rez and Olson 2001a, b, 2003a) and many additionalspe- 290343, 291174-291175, 291197-291200, 291216, cies are known that await description. Not all of the 291860-291861, 291883, 291886, 296343, 321580, raptors that have disappearedfrom Cuba in the Quater- 343441, 499423, 499626, 499646, 500999-501000, nary are extinct species,however. We report here the first 610743-610744, 614338; Falcofemoralis 30896, 291300, 319446, 622320-622321. recordsfor Cuba of two widespreadliving speciesthat are not known in the Antilles today. Family Accipitridae Thesefossils were obtainedduring recentpaleontolog- Genus ButeoLacepede ical exploration of an asphalt deposit, Las Breasde San Red-shouldered Hawk Buteolineatus (Gmelin) Felipe, which is so far the only "tar pit" site known in (Fig. 1 A-C) the West Indies. Two fossiliferous localities known as San REFERRED ]V[ATERIAL Felipe I and II occur among extinct and activetar seeps Proximal end of right femur (MNHNCu P4614), distal in the floor of the San Felipe Valley, MatanzasProvince, halves of right and left tibiotarsi (MNHNCu P4615, 5.5 km west of the town of Mart• (ca. 22ø57'N, 80ø58'W; MNHNCu P4616), distal end of left tibiotarsus sheetMart/4084-IV, 1:50 000 map, X502, Y347;map pub- (MNHNCu P4617) and distalhalves of right and left tar- lished in 1986 by the Instituto Cubano de Geodesiay sometatarsi (MNHNCu P4618, MNHNCu P4619). Col- Cartogra•a). The age of the depositsis Quaternary,prob- lected in November 1988 by Manuel Iturralde-Vinent, ably late Pleistoceneand early Holocene (Iturralde-Vi- Reinaldo Rqjas-Consuegra,and Stephen Diaz-Franco at nent et al. 1999, 2000). Although the fossil record of San Felipe II. birds in Cuba has hitherto been biasedby the fact that almostall specimenshave come from cavedeposits, the COMPARISONS tar seepsof San Felipe provide a much better sampleof open-countryand aquatic birds that seldom or never are In size and proportions, these specimensagree with preserved in caves.The list of taxa is extensive and in- the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteolineatus) (Table 1), be- cludesamong other taxa cranes (Grus), thick-knees(Bu- ing larger than the Broad-wingedHawk (B. p&typterus) rhinus), storks (Ciconiidae), waterfowl (Anatidae), crows and smaller than the Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicens•s), (Corvus),with a diversevariety of raptorsand scavengers the only two speciesof Buteothat are year-roundresidents being especiallyabundant (Iturralde-Vinent et al. 2000, in Cuba today (Garrido and Garcia Montafia 1975). As Suarez 2000, Su'•rezand Olson 2003a, b, Su'•rezunpubl. wasthe casewith fossilsfrom the Bahamas,we took pmns data). to compare the specimenswith skeletonsof Gray Hawk (B. nitidus),a widespreadspecies of open country that •s of approximatelysimilar size and that might be expected to have occurred in the West Indies. But skeletal ele- •Correspondingauthor's e-mail address:olson.storrs@ ments of B. nitidusare consistentlymore robust than m nmnh.si.edu B. lineatus. 72 SHORT COMMUNICATIONS VOL. 37, NO. 1 D Figure 1. A-C, modern Red-shoulderedHawk, Buteolineatus (USNM 17953,on the left in eachpair) comparedwith Cuban fossilsof the stonespecies (A, MNHNCu P4614; B. P4615; C, P4618). D-E, modern Aplomado Falcon, Falco femo•nlis(USNM 291300, on the left in each pair) compared with Cuban fossilsof the same species (D, MNHNCu P4606; B, P4609). A, proximal end of right femur in anterior view; B, distal end of left tibiotarsusin anterior view; C, distal end of right tarsometatarsusin anterior view; D, right carpometacarpiin internal view;E, left tarsometatarsi in anterior view. Scale bars = 2 cm. M_ARCH2003 SItORT COMMUNICATIONS 73 Table 1. Skeletal measurements (ram) of Cuban fossil and modern Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus). CUBAN FOSSILS MODERN MEASUREMENT RANGE MEAN N RANGE MEAN N Femur Depth of head 4.9 1 4.5-5.7 5.1 33 Tibiotarsus Least width of shaft at midpoint 5.6 1 4.8-6.1 5.5 33 Distal width throughcondyles 9.9-10.9 10.4 2 9.5-11.7 10.9 33 Tarsometatarsus Least width of shaft at midpoint 4.9 I 3.7-5.0 4.4 31 Width of shaft proximal to meta- tarsal facet 5.1-5.3 5.2 3 4.1-5.8 5.1 32 Depth of shaft proximal to meta- tarsal facet 4.2-4.4 4.3 2 3.4-4.4 3.9 32 Distal width 12.3 1 1 1.2-13.3 12.3 32 Depth of middle trochlea 4.9 1 4.4-5.3 4.9 32 REMARI•q ance of thc intermediate-sized Red-shouldered Hawk Although the Red-shouldered Hawk now has an en- from Cuba could be related to the disappearanceof prey, tirely continental distribution, it has previously been which would presumably have affected the other specms of Buteo as well. known in the West Indies fi-om a few fossils fi-om cave depositsin the Bahamas(Olson 2000), where it first was Ridgway'sHawk (Buteoridgwayi), endemic to Hispan- described as an endemic genus and species Calohierax iola, is now believed to be a small derivative of B. lineatus quadratus(Wetmore 1937, but seeOlson and Hilgartner (Olson 2000). The prehistoric occurrence of the latter 1982, Olson 2000). Thus, its occurrence in Cuba might in Cuba suggeststhat the ancestral stock of Ridgway's have been predicted. The Bahaman population wasprob- Hawk was probably derived from insular populations of ably derivedti-om that of Cuba, as hasbeen the casewith B. lineatus,and most likely t?om Cuba. many other birds (Brodkorb 1959, Olson and Hilgartner Family Falconidae 1982). Genus Falco Linnaeus, 1758 The Red-shoulderedHawk is ordinarily a speciesof Aplomado Falcon FalcofemoralisTemminck, 1822 roesic bottomland forests, so its withdrawal t?om Cuba (Fig. 1 D-E) and the Bahamasis difficult to understand in light of the REFERRED MATERIAL thct that ecological conditions in these islands presum- ably have become more roesic since the end of the last Right carpometacarpus lacking minor metacarpal glacial period. Potential sourcesof food were much great- (MNHNCu P4606), right carpometacarpuslacking distal er in Cuba than in the Bahamas, making the disappem• end and minor metacarpal(MNHNCu P4607), distalend ance of this hawk from Cuba even more enigmatic. of left tibiotarsus (MNHNCu P4608), proximal end of The Red-tailed Hawk and the Broad-winged Hawk, left tarsometatarsus (MNHNCu P4609), collected 25 Feb- each represented by supposedlyendemic subspecies(B. ruary 2001 by Stephen Diaz-Franco and William Suarez jamaicensissolitudinis Barbour and B. platypteruscubanensis at San Felipe I, area C. Burns), are common on Cuba today (Rafihele et al. 1998, COMPARISONS Carfido and Kirkconnell 2000) and both have been re- corded from Quaternary cavedeposits on Cuba (Jim6nez These specimensagree perfectly in size and characters 1997, Suftrezand Arredondo 1997), with the latter being with the Aplomado Falcon (Falcofemoralis) (Table 2). found in the San Felipe II asphalt depositsas well (Suftrez They are much too large for American Kestrel, Merhn, unpubl. data.). It hardly seems likely that the disappear- or Bat Falcon (E sparverius,E columbarius,E rufigular•s) 74 SHORT COMMUNICATIONS VOL. 37, NO. 1 Table 2. Skeletal measurements(mm) in fossil and modern Aplomado Falcon (Falcofemoralis). CUBAN FOSSILS MODERN MEASUREMENT RANGE MEAN N RANGE MEAN N Carpometacarpus Total length 41.8 1 37.7-42.5 40.8 4 Proximal width 4.6* 1 4.4-5.1 4.7 4 Proximal depth 10.8 1 9.1-11.6 10.7 4 Width of major metacarpal at midpoint 3.5-3.6 3.5 2 2.9-3.6 3.3 4 Tibiotarsus Distal width 7.5 a 1 7.0-8.7 7.9 5 Tarsometatarsus Width at level of proximal foramina 6.4 I 5.7-7.0 6.5 5 Estimated. or for the extinct Cuban speciesF. kurochkini(Sufirez and fossil specimens to the Smithsonian Institution from Olson 2001a), and too small for a Peregrine (E peregri- Cuba. Photographs are by John Steiner, Smithsonian nus) or Prairie falcon (E mexicanus).No skeletons were Photographic Services, and the figure was arranged by Brian Schmidt, Division of Birds. avadable for Orange-breasted Falcon (E deiroleucus'),but th•s specieshas very different proportions from E femor- LITERATURE CITED ahs, with a proportionately shorter and much more ro- bust tarsometatarsus. Am•t)ONDO,O. 1976. The great predatorybirds of the Pleistocene of Cubaß Smithson. Contrib. Paleobiol. 27: 169-188. That the Aplomado Falcon once occurred in Cuba is ß 1984. Sinopsisde las aveshalladas en dep6sitos perhaps not unexpected. It is a partially migratory spe- fosillferos pleisto-holoc6nicosde Cuba. Pep. Invest. cies with an extremely wide range extending from the Inst. Zool. 17:1-35. southwesternUnited Statesto Ticrra del Fuego and the BRODKORB,P. ]959. Pleistocene birds from New Provi- Falkland Islands. It inhabits shrub grasslandsand savanna dence Island, Bahamas.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • THE ECOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS of the NEW ZEALAND FALCON (Falco Novaeseelandiae) in PLANTATION FORESTRY
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. THE ECOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW ZEALAND FALCON (Falco novaeseelandiae) IN PLANTATION FORESTRY A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand Richard Seaton 2007 Adult female New Zealand falcon. D. Stewart 2003. “The hawks, eagles and falcons have been an inspiration to people of all races and creeds since the dawn of civilisation. We cannot afford to lose any species of the birds of prey without an effort commensurate with the inspiration of courage, integrity and nobility that they have given humanity…If we fail on this point, we fail in the basic philosophy of feeling a part of our universe and all that goes with it.” Morley Nelson, 2002. iii iv ABSTRACT Commercial pine plantations made up of exotic tree species are increasingly recognised as habitats that can contribute significantly to the conservation of indigenous biodiversity in New Zealand. Encouraging this biodiversity by employing sympathetic forestry management techniques not only offers benefits for indigenous flora and fauna but can also be economically advantageous for the forestry industry. The New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) or Karearea, is a threatened species, endemic to the islands of New Zealand, that has recently been discovered breeding in pine plantations. This research determines the ecological requirements of New Zealand falcons in this habitat, enabling recommendations for sympathetic forestry management to be made.
    [Show full text]
  • Survival, Movements and Habitat Use of Aplomado Falcons Released in Southern Texas
    THE JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. VOL. 30 DECEMBEg 1996 NO. 4 j. RaptorRes. 30(4):175-182 ¸ 1996 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. SURVIVAL, MOVEMENTS AND HABITAT USE OF APLOMADO FALCONS RELEASED IN SOUTHERN TEXAS CHRISTOPHERJ. PEREZ 1 New MexicoCooperative Fish and WildlifeResearch Unit, New MexicoState University, Las Cruces,NM 88003 U.S.A. PHILLIPJ. ZWANK U.S. NationalBiological Service, New MexicoCooperative Fish and WildlifeResearch Unit, New MexicoState University, Las Cruces,NM 88003 U.S.A. DAVID W. SMITH Departmentof ExperimentalStatistics, New MexicoState University, Las Cruces,NM 88003 U.S.A. A•sTv,ACT.--Aplomado falcons (Falcofemoralis)formerly bred in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Nest- ing in the U.S. waslast documentedin 1952. In 1986, aplomadofalcons were listed as endangeredand efforts to reestablishthem in their former range were begun by releasingcaptive-reared individuals in southern Texas. From 1993-94, 38 hatch-yearfalcons were released on Laguna AtascosaNational Wild- life Refuge.Two to 3 wk after release,28 falconswere recapturedfor attachmentof tail-mountedradio- transmitters.We report on survival,movements, and habitat use of these birds. In 1993 and 1994, four and five mortalities occurred within 2 and 4 wk of release, respectively.From 2-6 mo post-release,11 male and three female radio-taggedaplomado falcons used a home range of about 739 km• (range = 36-281 km2). Most movementsdid not extend beyond10 km from the refuge boundary,but a moni- tored male dispersed136 km north when 70 d old. Averagelinear distanceof daily movementswas 34 _+5 (SD) km. After falconshad been released75 d, they consistentlyused specific areas to forageand roost.
    [Show full text]
  • Hunting with the Aplomado Falcon in the U.S
    !\ \ Pltrtto bt, Rob Palmer nalDd qoa q opqd flN ouolFurrrueg 'O'IA[ ururtul senruf 's'n, oql u gWoppurold wffipn Ig 'S'n aql ut uoJIeJ opeuoldy aqt qll^{ Surlung 32 Hunting with the Aplomado falcon in the U.S prey such as bobrvhites. Aplomado Falcons are social to the extent that mated pairs hunt together and catr be found together throughout the year and they hunt cooperativeli' r,vhen chasing avian prey. Siblings remain together for some time after becoming independent and hunt together. In Hector's study, birds account for an estirnated 97% of the prey biomass. Most birds are sized witl-r the smallest .J dove to robin being a hummingbird. The most ,-.€' commonly taken birds rvere lvhitc- '* winged doves, great tailed grackles. *.. * groove billed anis and yellorv billed cuckoos. Y had heard and read about I aolomado falcons bul ner er' I to have the op- portunity"lp".,"d to fly one. When I sarl that.|im Nelson, a falconer in Ken- newick, Washington, was breeding them, I thought long and hard about obtaining one. I currentl)' fly a f'emale peregrinc on ducks, pheasants and prairie chickens in Nebraska and I recentll' lost mv I'emale barbary'x merlin to a mptor. I love the stoop but I realll,missed thc pursuit flights at snrall avian quarry/. The advantage o1'{l,ving a "; pursuit falcon is that slips :rt small at,iau quar r)1 are plentifirl through- : r :E:= out the year and it is fiil-r to rvatch. I -.:13'.:::# knerv that purchasine an aplomado rvas going to be expensivc and thel' ilttthor ancl Sgt.
    [Show full text]
  • Seasonal Diet of the Aplomado Falcon &Lpar;<I>Falco Femoralis</I>&Rpar
    SHORT COMMUNICATIONS j RaptorRes. 39(1):55-60 ¸ 2005 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. SEASONALDIET OF THE APLOMADOFALCON (FALCOFEMORALIS) IN AN AGRtCULTURALARE• OF ARAUCAN•, SOUTHERN CHILE POCARDOA. FIGUEROAROJAS 1 AND EMA SOR•YACOMES STAPPUNG Estudiospara la Conservaci6ny Manejo de la Vida SilvestreConsultores, Blanco Encalada 350, Chilltin, Chile KEYWORDS: AplomadoFalcon; Falco femoralis; diet;agri- cania region, southern Chile. The landscape is com- cultural areas;,Chile. prised mainly of wheat and oat crops,scattered pasture and sedge-rush(Carex-Juncus spp.) marshes,small plan- The Aplomado Falcon (Falcofemoralis) is distributed tations of nonnativePinus spp. and Eucalyptusspp., and from southwesternUnited Statesto Tierra del Fuego Isla remnants of the native southern beech (Nothofagusspp.) forest. The climate is moist-temperatewith a Mediterra- Grande in southern Argentina and Chile. Aplomados in- nean influence (di Castriand Hajek 1976). Mean annual habit open areas such as savannas,desert grasslands,An- rainfall and temperatureare 1400 mm and 12øC,respec- dean and Patagonian steppes,and tree-lined pastures, tively. from coastalplains up to 4000 m in the Andes (Brown From August (austral winter) to December (austral and Areadon 1968, de la Pefia and Rumboll 1998). In spring-summer) 1997, we collected 65 pellets under the United States,the Aplomado Falcon is listed as en- trees and fence postsused as pluck sitesby at least one dangered (Shull 1986) due to the historical modification pair of AplomadoFalcons. We collected40 pelletsduring of its habitats and cumulative effects of DDT (Kiff et al. winter and 25 during spring-summer.A few prey remains 1980, Hector 1987). In contrast,the Chilean population were also collected beneath pluck sites during the may be increasing.Forest conversion to agricultural lands spring-summer period.
    [Show full text]
  • Aplomado Falcon Abundance and Distribution in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico
    THE JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. VOL. 38 JUNF,2004 NO. 2 j Raptorlies. 38(2):107-117 ¸ 2004 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. APLOMADO FALCON ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION IN THE NORTHERN CHIHUAHUAN DESERT OF MEXICO KENDAL E. YOUNG 1 AND BRUCE C. THOMPSON 2 NewMexico Cooperative Fish and WildliJbResearch Unit and Fisheryand Wildli? SciencesDepartment, Box 30003, MSC 4901, New MexicoState University, Las Cruces,NM 88003 U.S.A. ALBERTO LAF(SN TERRAZAS Facultad de Zootecnia, UniversidadAut6noma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico ANGEL B. MONTOYA ThePeregrine Fund, Boise,11) 83709 U.S.A. RAUL VALDEZ Fisheryand WildliJkSdences Department, Box 30003, MSC 4901, NewMexico State University, Las Cruces,NM 88003 U.S.A. AnSTRACT.--Thenorthern Aplomado Falcon (Falcofemoralis septentrionalis) historically occupied coastal prairies, savannas,and desert grasslandsfrom southern Mexico north to southern and southwestern Texas,southern New Mexico, and southeasternArizona. Current residentAplomado Falconpopulations are primarily in Mexico, with isolatedpopulations in southernTexas and from northern Chihuahuato southern New Mexico. We conductedsurveys in semidesertgrasslands/savannas and associatedhabitats in northern Chihuahua to locate Aplomado Falconsand to better delineate their distribution and abundancein the northern Chihuahuan Desert during 1998-99. Data were collectedby surveyinglarge tracts,transects in nonrandomlyselected grasslands, and from a falcon monitoring study.Based on all surveyeffort, the minimum knownpopulation of adult Aplomado Falconsin the studyarea in northern Chihuahua was79 individuals.Aplomado Falconswere primarily associatedwith grasslandcommunities. Most falcon nests (88%) were found in grasslandcommunities with soaptreeyucca (Yuccaelata) or Torrey yucca (Y. torreyi).Aplomado Falconswere found fairly clusteredin the north-centralto north- eastern part of the study area.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Conservation Concern 2021 Migratory Bird Program Table of Contents
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Birds of Conservation Concern 2021 Migratory Bird Program Table Of Contents Executive Summary 4 Acknowledgments 5 Introduction 6 Methods 7 Geographic Scope 7 Birds Considered 7 Assessing Conservation Status 7 Identifying Birds of Conservation Concern 10 Results and Discussion 11 Literature Cited 13 Figures 15 Figure 1. Map of terrestrial Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) Marine Bird Conservation Regions (MBCRs) of North America (Bird Studies Canada and NABCI 2014). See Table 2 for BCR and MBCR names. 15 Tables 16 Table 1. Island states, commonwealths, territories and other affiliations of the United States (USA), including the USA territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone considered in the development of the Birds of Conservation Concern 2021. 16 Table 2. Terrestrial Bird Conservation Regions (BCR) and Marine Bird Conservation Regions (MBCR) either wholly or partially within the jurisdiction of the Continental USA, including Alaska, used in the Birds of Conservation Concern 2021. 17 Table 3. Birds of Conservation Concern 2021 in the Continental USA (CON), continental Bird Conservation Regions (BCR), Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (PRVI), and Hawaii and Pacific Islands (HAPI). Refer to Appendix 1 for scientific names of species, subspecies and populations Breeding (X) and nonbreeding (nb) status are indicated for each geography. Parenthesized names indicate conservation concern only exists for a specific subspecies or population. 18 Table 4. Numbers of taxa of Birds of Conservation Concern 2021 represented on the Continental USA (CON), continental Bird Conservation Region (BCR), Puerto Rico and VirginIslands (PRVI), Hawaii and Pacific Islands (HAPI) lists by general taxonomic groups. Also presented are the unique taxa represented on all lists.
    [Show full text]
  • CHAMBERS, S. 2009. Birds of New Zealand - Locality Guide
    CHAMBERS, S. 2009. Birds of New Zealand - Locality Guide. 3rd edn. Arun Books, Orewa, New Zealand. New Zealand falcon: pp 121-123. NEW ZEALAND FALCON. Family Falconidae Species Falco novaeseelandiae Common names New Zealand Falcon, Bush Falcon, Sparrowhawk Status Endemic Size 430 mm (cf sparrow 145 mm, Harrier 550mm) Habitat The Bush Falcon and Southern Falcon are confined to forested areas while the Eastern Falcon is widely spread over pastureland and rough and open high country. In recent years there has been some artificial breeding of falcons in the Nelson area as a means to reducing pest birds in vineyards. New Zealand range In the North Island widespread south of a line from Kawhia Harbour to the central Bay of Plenty. In the South Island it is widespread throughout but nowhere common. Also on Stewart Island and Auckland Island. Discussion The Bush Falcon is an endemic species which is not grouped with any of the five species of Australian falcons. Instead it is grouped with three species known from the southern American states of Texas and New Mexico and from Central America and northern South America (Cade T J 1982). These species are the Orange-breasted Falcon (F. deiroleucus), the Bat Falcon (F. rufigularis) and the Aplomado Falcon (F. femoralis). Its relationship with these Birds Locality - PDFs.indd 213 10/15/2011 8:13:44 PM three species is to do with similarities of bill shape, tail colouring, sunbathing habits, the excretory habits of nestlings and with their carnivorous eating habits and hunting techniques. The ancestor of the New Zealand Falcon is considered to have been an early arrival to New Zealand, it adapting to the New Zealand environment and even progressing towards tameness as did other endemic and ancient species.
    [Show full text]
  • Learn About Texas Birds Activity Book
    Learn about . A Learning and Activity Book Color your own guide to the birds that wing their way across the plains, hills, forests, deserts and mountains of Texas. Text Mark W. Lockwood Conservation Biologist, Natural Resource Program Editorial Direction Georg Zappler Art Director Elena T. Ivy Educational Consultants Juliann Pool Beverly Morrell © 1997 Texas Parks and Wildlife 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 PWD BK P4000-038 10/97 All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems – without written permission of the publisher. Another "Learn about Texas" publication from TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE PRESS ISBN- 1-885696-17-5 Key to the Cover 4 8 1 2 5 9 3 6 7 14 16 10 13 20 19 15 11 12 17 18 19 21 24 23 20 22 26 28 31 25 29 27 30 ©TPWPress 1997 1 Great Kiskadee 16 Blue Jay 2 Carolina Wren 17 Pyrrhuloxia 3 Carolina Chickadee 18 Pyrrhuloxia 4 Altamira Oriole 19 Northern Cardinal 5 Black-capped Vireo 20 Ovenbird 6 Black-capped Vireo 21 Brown Thrasher 7Tufted Titmouse 22 Belted Kingfisher 8 Painted Bunting 23 Belted Kingfisher 9 Indigo Bunting 24 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 10 Green Jay 25 Wood Thrush 11 Green Kingfisher 26 Ruddy Turnstone 12 Green Kingfisher 27 Long-billed Thrasher 13 Vermillion Flycatcher 28 Killdeer 14 Vermillion Flycatcher 29 Olive Sparrow 15 Blue Jay 30 Olive Sparrow 31 Great Horned Owl =female =male Texas Birds More kinds of birds have been found in Texas than any other state in the United States: just over 600 species.
    [Show full text]
  • Cooperative Hunting and Its Relationship to Foraging Success and Prey Size in an Avian Predator
    Ethology 73, 247-257 (1986) © 1986 Paul Parey Scientific Publishers, Berlin and Hamburg ISSN 0179-1613 1 ,- Department of Biology, University of California, Los Angeles Cooperative Hunting and its Relationship to Foraging Success and Prey Size in an Avian Predator DEAN p. HECTOR With 2 figures Received: December 31, 1985 Accepted: Apri/16, 1986 Abstract Aplomado falcons (Falco femora/is) often hunt in pairs when chasing birds; 29 % of 349 hunts observed in eastern Mexico involved mated pairs of falcons simultaneously chasing the same prey animal; and 66 % of 100 hunts of birds were tandem pursuits. Although true cooperative hunting is uncommon in birds of prey, hunts by pairs of Aplomado falcons consistently showed signs of cooperative behavior such as use of a simple coordinative signal, and some division of labor between participating individuals. Pairs were more than twice as successful as solo falcons hunting birds (44 % vs. 19 % ), however, there was no evidence that cooperative hunting increased the range of feasible prey sizes. The frequent use of cooperative foraging in this and similar species may relate to necessities of efficient nest defense, and food and nest procurement in savannas inhabited by a diversity of nest­ site predators. J Introduction Despite their reputation as solitary hunters, birds of prey often engage in various types of social foraging behavior. Most commonly, individuals hunt in flocks with little or no coordination among members. This occurs in the western red-legged falcon (Falco vespertinus; CRAMP & SIMMONS 1980), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni; BENT 1937), snail kite (Rhostramus sociabilis; BROWN & AMA­ DON 1968), and tawny eagle (Aquila rapax; CRAMP & SIMMONS 1980), species which feed on invertebrates and small terrestrial vertebrates.
    [Show full text]
  • Corales Stappung, ES. "Comparación De La Dieta Estival Del Halco
    Comparación de la dieta estival del halconcito colorado (Falco sparverius ) y el halcón plomizo (Falco femoralis) en un área agrícola de la araucaría, Sur de Chile Figueroa Rojas, R. A.; Corales Stappung, E. S. 2004 Cita: Figueroa Rojas, R. A.; Corales Stappung, E. S. (2004) Comparación de la dieta estival del halconcito colorado (Falco sparverius ) y el halcón plomizo (Falco femoralis) en un área agrícola de la araucaría, Sur de Chile. Hornero 019 (02) : 053-060 www.digital.bl.fcen.uba.ar Puesto en linea por la Biblioteca Digital de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad de Buenos Aires 2004Hornero 19(2):53–60, 2004DIET OF THE AMERICAN KESTREL AND APLOMADO FALCON 53 SUMMER DIET COMPARISON BETWEEN THE AMERICAN KESTREL (FALCO SPARVERIUS) AND APLOMADO FALCON (FALCO FEMORALIS) IN AN AGRICULTURAL AREA OF ARAUCANÍA, SOUTHERN CHILE RICARDO A. FIGUEROA ROJAS 1,2 AND E. SORAYA CORALES STAPPUNG 1 1 Estudios para la Conservación y Manejo de la Vida Silvestre Consultores. Blanco Encalada 350, Chillán, Chile. 2 [email protected] ABSTRACT.— The diet of the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) and Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) was quantified by analysis of their pellets during the summer 1997-1998 in an agricul- tural area of Araucanía, southern Chile. By number, the most important prey of the American Kestrel were insects (61% of all individual prey) followed by birds (23%), rodents (13.7%) and reptiles (2.6%). Avian prey accounted for the highest biomass contribution (79.6%), followed by rodents (18%). Biomass contribution of insects and reptiles was negligible. Birds were the staple prey of the Aplomado Falcon both by number (89%) and biomass (99%).
    [Show full text]
  • Species Risk Assessment
    Ecological Sustainability Analysis of the Kaibab National Forest: Species Diversity Report Ver. 1.2 Prepared by: Mikele Painter and Valerie Stein Foster Kaibab National Forest For: Kaibab National Forest Plan Revision Analysis 22 December 2008 SpeciesDiversity-Report-ver-1.2.doc 22 December 2008 Table of Contents Table of Contents............................................................................................................................. i Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 PART I: Species Diversity.............................................................................................................. 1 Species List ................................................................................................................................. 1 Criteria .................................................................................................................................... 2 Assessment Sources................................................................................................................ 3 Screening Results.................................................................................................................... 4 Habitat Associations and Initial Species Groups........................................................................ 8 Species associated with ecosystem diversity characteristics of terrestrial vegetation or aquatic systems ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 6666 Federal Register / Vol. 51, No. 37 / Tuesday, February 25, 1986 / Rujes and Regulations
    6666 Federal Register / Vol. 51, No. 37 / Tuesday, February 25, 1986 / RuJes and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE INiERlOR kestrels (FaIco sparverius) and implicate habitat degradation due to peregrine falcon! (Fake peregrinus). brush encroachment as the main factor Fish and Wildllfe Service , The northern aplomado falcon does not responsible for the disappearance of the seem to be migratory, since most subspecies from the United States. 50 CFR Part 17 collected adults were taken in winter Secondarily, overcollecting of the Endangered and Threatened Wildlife months in the United States (Hector falcons and their eggs may have and Plants; Determination of the 1981). Hector (1960,1981,1982,1983) temporarily reduced their numbers in Nodhem Aplomado Falcon lo Be an summarized the literature dealing with some parts of the United States. Endangered Species the northern aplomado falcon and However, collecting pressure, by itself, reported on the historic and recent could not account for the continued AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, distributions of the species, and on its absence of the aplomado falcon north of Interior. habitat, diet, and behavior. Kiff et al, Mexico. Currently, the most serious ACTION: Final rule. (1978) documented eggshell thinning and threat to this falcon is the continued uee pesticide contamination in the of DDT and other persistent pesticides SUMMARY: The Service determines the subspecies. within the ranges of the falcon and some northern aplomado falcon, Fake Egg laying has been recorded betwien of its prey species. femoralis septentrionuh, to be an the months of January and September FaIco femomiis septentrionalis ws endangered species under provisions of eggs are usually laid in April or May, first considered by the Service in 1973 as the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Aplomado falcons feed on birds, insects, a possible candidate for endangered amended.
    [Show full text]