Rough-legged Buzzards use vole scent marks to assess hunting areas

Authors
Koivula, M Viitala, J
Citation
M. Koivula et J. Viitala, Rough-legged Buzzards use vole scent marks to assess hunting areas, J AVIAN BIO, 30(3), 1999, pp. 329-332
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
ISSN journal
09088857 → ACNP
Volume
30
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
329 - 332
Database
ISI
SICI code
0908-8857(199909)30:3<329:RBUVSM>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
zeVoles scent mark their territories with urine and faeces that are visible in ultraviolet (UV) light. Rough-legged Buzzards Buteo lagopus feed mainly on votes. We performed a field experiment in northern Finland to test whet her buzzards are attracted to UV-visible vole scent marks. The buzzards hun ted more often on plots with vole scent marks than on control plots. Our re sults indicate that Rough-Legged Buzzards may be able to use vote scent mar ks as a cue when searching for profitable hunting and breeding areas.