Diet of the Rufous‐legged Owl (Strix rufipes, Strigiformes) in an Andean Nothofagus–Araucaria forest, southern Chile

We quantified the diet of the Rufous‐legged Owl (Strix rufipes) by analyzing 40 pellets collected during the austral autumn 2001, 2003 and 2004 in an Andean Nothofagus–Araucaria forest, southern Chile. Five small mammal species, two passerine birds, insects of two orders, four scorpions and a snail were identified in the pellets. Although insects were the most numerous prey (72.4% of all prey items), small mammals constituted most of the biomass (89.2%). The arboreal small mammals Dromiciops gliroides and Irenomys tarsalis were the most frequently consumed prey (10.4% and 6.3% of all individuals; 37.7% and 28% of total biomass, respectively). The scansorial Oligoryzomys longicaudatus accounted for almost 3% of all items and 7% of total biomass. Terrestrial small mammals accounted for only 1% of all individual prey and 3.6% of total biomass. Our results were similar to those reported for Rufous‐legged Owls inhabiting Valdivian rainforests, which suggest that this owl species is conservative in its food hab...