Diet of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in relation to temporal and spatial variation in racing pigeon availability in Wales

Dixon, Andrew and Richards, Colin and King, Andrew (2018) Diet of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in relation to temporal and spatial variation in racing pigeon availability in Wales. ORNIS HUNGARICA, 26 (2). pp. 188-200. ISSN 1215-1610

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Abstract

The relative frequency of Common Pigeons Columba livia in the diet of Peregrine Falcons differed across three areas of south-central Wales in line with racing pigeon availability. Peregrines exhibited a functional response to spatial and temporal availability of racing pigeons. During the pigeon-racing season (April–September), pigeons comprised 63% of kills in South Wales where pigeons were most available, 43% in the Brecon Beacons with intermediate availability and 30% in Central Wales, where availability was lowest. The corresponding values outside the pigeon-racing season were 18%, 6% and 5% respectively. We estimate that 92% of pigeons killed by Peregrines were racing pigeons, 7% were feral pigeons and the remainder were other domestic pigeon varieties.

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