Non-fish prey in the diet of an exclusive fish-eater: the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

0443156 - BC 2016 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Čech, Martin - Čech, P.
Non-fish prey in the diet of an exclusive fish-eater: the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis.
Bird Study. Roč. 62, č. 4 (2015), s. 457-465. ISSN 0006-3657. E-ISSN 1944-6705
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA206/06/1371; GA ČR(CZ) GP206/09/P266
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : Lizard Lacerta sp. * newt Triturus sp. * diagnostic bones * Gudgeon Gobio gobio * Blanice River * Slapy Reservoir
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 0.888, year: 2015

The species and size spectrum of prey in the diet of the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis was studied in 15 nest sites on six trout streams, one river and one reservoir in the Czech Republic. Special attention was given to non-fish prey. In total, 16,933 individual prey items were identified (99.93 % fish, 0.07% non-fish prey). Perch Perca fluviatilis, roach Rutilus rutilus and bleak Alburnus alburnus dominated the diets of the Kingfishers on the reservoir, gudgeon Gobio gobio, European chub Squalius cephalus and roach in those on the river and gudgeon, European chub and bullhead Cottus gobio in the trout streams. The sizes of their fish prey ranged from 1.6 to 13.4 cm in total length (L_T) with an average size of 6.6 cm L_T. The non-fish prey were mostly composed of large aquatic insect larvae - dragonflies Anax sp. and Aeshna sp., common club-tail Gomphus vulgatissimus and great diving beetle Dytiscus marginalis. In one case, the Kingfisher also took hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum, grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus, spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus, newt Triturus sp. and a lizard Lacerta sp. The estimated sizes of the non-fish prey ranged from 3 to 9 cm. The unique finding of a lizard is the first record of an amniot vertebrate in the diet of Common Kingfisher.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0251530