Possible scavenging behaviour in Ornate Hawk-eagle Spizaetus ornatus; Amazonas, Brazil
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
We provide documentation of the first observations of interactions with carrion in the Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus), a species formerly assumed only to prey on live food items. During fieldwork in RESEX Médio-Juruá reserve, in Amazonas, Brazil, in June-August 2009, images were captured by remote camera traps of an Ornate Hawk-Eagle interacting with a cattle femur, indicating possible scavenging behavior. Additionally, apparent investigatory behavior was also recorded in Slate-colored Hawk (Buteogallus schistaceus), a previously unrecorded behavior for the species. We suggest that additional work with camera traps monitoring carrion may reveal opportunistic scavenging to be more widespread in tropical forest raptors than has generally been assumed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 27-31 |
Journal | Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2014 |