1. Ardeola 53(1), 2006, 39-54
DIETA DEL AGUILILLA CALZADA EN EL SUR DE ÁVILA:
IMPORTANCIA DE LOS PASERIFORMES
Ignacio S. GARCÍA DIOS* 1
SUMMARY.—Diet of the booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus in the south of Avila: Importance of the song-
birds.
Aims: The diet of booted eagle in two study areas in the south of Avila (central Spain) is described.
These are areas with continental Mediterranean climates with great influence by precipitations during the
years 1996 and 1999.
Location: Tietar Valley and southern slope of the Sierra de Gredos (Ávila, central Spain).
Methods: Diet composition varied depending on the used methodology for data collection.
Results: The birds are the principal group taken, especially the songbirds (biomass and occurrence),
reptiles and mammals. The main preys are the common blackbird Turdus merula, european starling Stur-
nus vulgaris, barn swallow Hirundo rustica, rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, ocel