The Diet of the Great Gray Owl, Strix nebulosa, at Different Levels of Prey Abundance during the Nesting Season

Abstract

Variation in the diet of the Great Gray Owl, a specialist predator, at different levels of prey abundance in different biotopes was studied in the middle Transural region. Microtus voles were found to be the main prey, with shrews being alternative prey. In different plots, two types of change in the diet were observed during the nesting season: (1) substitution of Microtus voles inhabiting meadow biotopes by Microtus voles characteristic of forest habitats, and (2) substitution of the latter by shrews.