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Steven M. Goodman 1,2,4 and Russell Thorstrom3
ABSTRACT.-Based on pellets collected at the first known nest of this endemic species, data are presented on the diet of the Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei). This owl feeds almost exclusively on small mammals, the vast majority of which are native to the island. There is evidence that this species hunts at the forest edge and uses open human-degraded habitats. There is virtually no overlap in the diet of the Madagascar Red Owl and the Barn Owl (T alba). Received 17 July 1997, accepted 10 May 1998.
Until recently, the endemic Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) was thought to be extremely rare and restricted to primary rain forest in the eastern portion of Madagascar (Collar and Stuart 1985, Langrand 1995). Over the past five years this species has been recorded at numerous localities in eastern Madagascar, and it is becoming increasingly clear that it is at best reclusive, rather than rare, and is widespread in disturbed habitats (Halleux and Goodman 1994; Powzyk 1995; Thorstrom 1996; Goodman et al. 1996; Thorstrom et al. 1997). Although information on the distribution and natural history aspects of the Madagascar Red Owl have been significantly augmented in the past few years, certain aspects of its life history remain poorly known and some published information is contradictory to that gathered from recent field work.
With the capture and radiotagging of an adult female Madagascar Red Owl in October 1994 and the discovery of the first known nest of this species in August 1995 near Ambanizana (see below), new information is now available on aspects of this species' ranging behavior, roosting sites, and vocalization (Thorstrom et al. 1997). Further, on the basis of a preliminary analysis of pellet and prey remains found near roosts in 1994, it is known that small mammals are the dominant prey type taken by this owl (Thorstrom et al. 1997). Herein we present further information on the food habits of the Madagascar Red Owl based on pellets collected between 1994 and 1996 near Ambanizana. These data are compared to the diet of a congeneric owl, T. alba, occurring sympatrically with T. soumagnei in the rain forests of Madagascar.
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