Explore the vast range of titles available.

The present study aimed to test intestinal scrapings of the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) from Lithuania for S. calchasi and other Sarcocystis species characterised by bird–bird life cycles. The protozoan parasite Sarcocystis calchasi can cause respiratory and neurological diseases in a variety of birds; however, the distribution of this parasite is not well-examined. Sarcocystis species were identified with nested PCR and sequencing of the partial ITS1 region. Sporocysts and/or sporulated oocysts of Sarcocystis spp. were observed in 16 (100%) Northern Goshawks and 9 (56.3%) Eurasian Sparrowhawks. Four species, S. columbae, S. halieti, S. turdusi, and S. wobeseri, were confirmed in the Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Apart from the latter four species, S. calchasi, S. cornixi, S. kutkienae, and S. lari were established in the Northern Goshawk. A higher prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. and species richness in Northern Goshawks is associated with the differences in the diet of two examined Accipiter species. This study is the first report of S. calchasi in Lithuania. Furthermore, the genetically distinct species Sarcocystis spp. 23LTAcc, which is most closely related to S. calchasi, was found in three Northern Goshawks.

Wind energy development is advancing rapidly, but the potential ramifications of this growth on wildlife, particularly birds and bats, are not fully understood. Wind energy development may affect raptor (birds of prey) populations indirectly by displacing them from their previously occupied habitat; however, there are limited empirical data demonstrating this effect. We performed long-term raptor surveys at a wind farm previously implicated in the displacement of resident raptors and found that the duration of displacement varied among raptor species. Abundances of turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), and accipiters (sharp-shinned hawks [Accipiter striatus] and Cooper’s hawks [Accipiter cooperii] combined) all rebounded in years 7 and 8 of wind farm operation, while the apparent displacement of northern harriers (Circus hudsonius) and American kestrels (Falco sparverius) persisted across all post-construction monitoring periods. Our long-term assessment indicates not only that wind farm construction and operation may displace raptors but also that these impacts can diminish over time for certain species. This finding underscores the importance of assessing potential impacts over the operational life of a given wind farm and the need for long-term monitoring to validate predicted impacts, particularly for raptor communities.

Morphological mimicry of sparrowhawks Accipiter spp. by cuckoos acts to deceive hosts and thus promotes parasitism by cuckoos. Recent studies have suggested that common hosts are able to identify parasites and make special alarm calls as the result of co-evolution between hosts and brood parasites. Previous studies showed that barn swallows Hirundo rustica could distinguish between common cuckoo Cuculus canorus and sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus in Denmark, but seemed unable to make this distinction in China. However, these previous studies did not investigate vocal responses in terms of alarm calls. We tested whether barn swallows, which are regular hosts of the common cuckoo in China, could distinguish between the common cuckoo and sparrowhawk in China. In Heilongjiang, in the presence of the cuckoo and, in Hainan, in its absence, we used dummies of common cuckoo, sparrowhawk, and Oriental turtle dove Streptopelia orientalis (neutral control) to induce and record alarm calls that were used to estimate response to playbacks. Barn swallows responded more strongly to playbacks of swallow hawk alarm calls than in response to swallow cuckoo or swallow dove alarm calls. Given that alarm calls conveyed information about the presence of potential threats, our study showed that barn swallows from both study regions in China were able to distinguish between common cuckoo and sparrowhawk and respond accordingly in their vocal behavior.

Numerous species have adapted to humans, especially invasive species associated with humans in towns and cities. Short flight distances of populations adapted to urban environments reflect changes in behavior and physiology, reflecting phenotypic plasticity or evolution. Here, I tested the hypothesis that the decrease in flight distance to a potential predator (an approaching human) reflected adaptation to urbanization, using a data set of flight distances of 44 common species of European birds in different stages of adaptation to urban environments. Urban populations had consistently shorter flight distances than rural populations of the same species. Variation in relative flight distance of urban populations was predicted by the number of generations since urbanization, as expected by a gradual process of adaptation. Furthermore, species with relatively large populations in urban environments would be an indication of local adaptation to urban environments. Relative flight distance of urban population was shorter for species with large populations in urban compared to rural habitats. Species that had adapted to urban environments as shown by short flight distances were less susceptible to predation by the European sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus than species with relatively long flight distances in urban populations. These findings provide evidence consistent with the hypothesis that recent changes in the tameness of urban birds, as reflected by their relatively short flight distances, is an adaptation to the novel urban environment.

Selection by predators affects prey through competition for limiting resources. This not only has consequences for direct mortality but also indirectly affects disturbance. Changes in the intensity of selection on prey by predators may affect the size of prey populations, with consequences for their short- or long-term interactions. We assessed whether predation by northern goshawks Accipiter gentilis modified the composition of prey communities consistently along a temporal gradient, showing long-term consistency in susceptibility of prey species to predation. We followed six populations of the goshawk in two biomes in Denmark and Finland during 1949–2019. Susceptibility to goshawk predation in 2005–2017 in Denmark was only weakly related to susceptibility to goshawk predation in 1977–2004. In Finland, susceptibility of shared prey species to goshawk predation was positively related between periods. The average difference in susceptibility to goshawk predation between periods was considerably higher in Denmark than in Finland. Susceptibility of prey species to predation in goshawks increased with latitude and body mass of prey species, and decreased with period of time and population density of prey species. The changes in susceptibility to predation suggest changes in the characteristics of the local prey pools.

Kazakhstan is a major migration corridor for raptors in Central Asia, yet the migratory connectivity of these species remains poorly documented. We analysed 60 years of ringing data (1966–2025) for three species: Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Northern Goshawk (Astur gentilis), and Shikra (Tachyspiza badia). In total, 5785 individuals were ringed, and 38 recoveries of Kazakhstan-ringed birds were obtained (0.66%). Because recoveries for Goshawk (n = 2) and Shikra (n = 1) are extremely limited, quantitative analyses were restricted to Sparrowhawk recoveries (n = 35), while the other two species are reported descriptively as case records. For Sparrowhawks, migration distances reached 1947 km (mean = 975 km) and did not differ detectably among age classes. Most ringing effort occurred at Shakpak Pass (94.7%), and recoveries indicate connectivity between Kazakhstan, Western Siberia and wintering areas in Central Asia and northern India. Among recovered dead birds (n = 25), shooting (n = 10) and powerline electrocution or collision (n = 3) were frequently reported causes. These long-term ring recoveries provide baseline information on movement connectivity and threats for Central Asian accipiters and highlight the value of sustained monitoring at migration bottlenecks.

Bird banding has allowed us to understand diverse aspects of the life histories of migratory raptors. However, most banding stations are located at northern latitudes so what we know about the movements of these raptors is biased toward higher latitudes, primarily from Canada and the United States, leaving important gaps in our knowledge of their movements at lower latitudes. Our objective was to describe the migratory movements of Sharp-shinned (Accipiter striatus) and Cooper’s (A. cooperii) hawks based on banding and recapture records of birds that migrate through Veracruz, Mexico. More specifically, we sought to determine their breeding, migration, and non-breeding locations, estimate their migration distances, and contribute to a better understanding of their migration patterns. With a total of 80 records, we calculated migration distances and used Kernel Density Estimation analyses to identify where these hawks were recaptured or recovered by season. The distribution of recaptures and recoveries largely coincided with breeding locations in the Laurentian Upland and the Interior Plains physiographic regions. All migration records follow a trajectory that extends from the midwestern United States to the Gulf coastal plain of Mexico. The mean breeding season migration distance to Veracruz was 3374 km (a difference of 27 degrees of latitude) for Sharp-shinned Hawks and 2926 km (a difference of 25 degrees of latitude) for Cooper’s Hawks. Our non-breeding records indicate that populations of Accipiter hawks from these North American populations migrate the longest distances to reach Central America, the southernmost distribution of their migratory populations. Distances covered by both species represent round-trip migrations that may be as long as 10,000 km. Our results support those of previous studies and illustrate how continental physiography influences the migration routes, migratory behavior, and migratory connectivity of these hawks. El anillamiento de aves ha permitido comprender diversos aspectos de la historia de vida de las rapaces migratorias. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las estaciones de anillado está en latitudes norteñas, por lo que lo sabido de sus movimientos está sesgado a mayores latitudes, principalmente de Canadá y los Estados Unidos, dejando importantes vacíos en nuestro conocimiento de sus movimientos a menores latitudes. En este estudio describimos los movimientos migratorios de los gavilanes Accipiter striatus y A. cooperii por medio de registros de anillado y recaptura de individuos que migran por Veracruz, México. Nuestra meta fue determinar sus localidades de reproducción, migración y no-reproductivas, estimar su distancia de migración y contribuir al entendimiento de sus patrones de migración. Con un total de 80 registros, calculamos las distancias de migración, usamos análisis de Estimacion de Densidad de Kernel para identificar las regiones donde se concentran las recapturas por temporada. La distribucion de las recapturas y reencuentros de anillos coincidió en su mayoría con localidades de origen en las regiones fisiográficas Meseta Laurentiana y Planicies del Interior. Todos los registros de migracion siguen una trayectoria que extiende desde el medio-oeste de los Estados Unidos hasta la planicie costera del Golfo de Mexico. La distancia media de migracion a Veracruz para A. striatus es de 3374 km (una diferencia de 27 grados de latitud), mientras que aquella de A. cooperii es de 2926 km (una diferencia de 25 grados de latitud). Nuestros registros de la temporada no-reproductiva indicaron que las poblaciones de estas poblaciones de Norteamérica migran las mayores distancias para llegar a Centroamerica, la región más austral de la distribucion de sus poblaciones migratorias. Las distancias cubiertas por ambas especies representan migraciones que pueden llegar a los 10,000 km de ida y vuelta. Nuestros resultados apoyan otras investigaciones previas que ilustran cómo la fisiografia es un factor determinante en la definición de rutas migratorias, el comportamiento y la conectividad migratoria de estos gavilanes.

Sarcocystis is a large genus of protozoan parasites with complex heteroxenous life cycles. For many species, either the intermediate or the definitive host is still unknown. In this study, 116 Accipiter hawks (Eurasian sparrowhawks and northern goshawks) were investigated for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. in their intestinal tract or their faeces. To gain a wide distribution, samples were collected throughout Germany within 2 years. It was possible to detect Sarcocystis-like oocysts in 65 samples. Sequencing of the ITS region or species-specific PCR identified 33 samples as Sarcocystis turdusi/Sarcocystis sp. ex A. nisus (18), Sarcocystis calchasi (6), Sarcocystis columbae (3), Sarcocystis cornixi (3) and Sarcocystis sp. ex Phalacrocorax carbo (3). Besides the known infestation with S. columbae, S. sp. ex A. nisus and S. calchasi the Accipiter hawks were thereby confirmed as definitive host of S. turdusi, S. cornixi and S. sp. ex Phalacrocorax carbo for the first time.

Morbidity studies complement the understanding of hazards to raptors by identifying natural or anthropogenic factors. Descriptive epidemiological studies of wildlife have become an important source of information about hazards to wildlife populations. On the other hand, data referenced to the overall wild population could provide a more accurate assessment of the potential impact of the morbidity/mortality causes in populations of wild birds. The present study described the morbidity causes of hospitalized wild raptors and their incidence in the wild populations, through a long term retrospective study conducted at a wildlife rehabilitation centre of Catalonia (1995-2007). Importantly, Seasonal Cumulative Incidences (SCI) were calculated considering estimations of the wild population in the region and trend analyses were applied among the different years. A total of 7021 birds were analysed: 7 species of Strigiformes (n = 3521) and 23 of Falconiformes (n = 3500). The main causes of morbidity were trauma (49.5%), mostly in the Falconiformes, and orphaned/young birds (32.2%) mainly in the Strigiformes. During wintering periods, the largest morbidity incidence was observed in Accipiter gentillis due to gunshot wounds and in Tyto alba due to vehicle trauma. Within the breeding season, Falco tinnunculus (orphaned/young category) and Bubo bubo (electrocution and metabolic disorders) represented the most affected species. Cases due to orphaned/young, infectious/parasitic diseases, electrocution and unknown trauma tended to increase among years. By contrast, cases by undetermined cause, vehicle trauma and captivity decreased throughout the study period. Interestingly, gunshot injuries remained constant during the study period. Frequencies of morbidity causes calculated as the proportion of each cause referred to the total number of admitted cases, allowed a qualitative assessment of hazards for the studied populations. However, cumulative incidences based on estimated wild raptor population provided a more accurate approach to the potential ecological impact of the morbidity causes in the wild populations.

Even if some are essential for biological functions, the accumulation of heavy metals above tolerable physiological limits is potentially toxic to also wild animals. The present study aimed to investigate concentrations of environmentally relevant heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn) in feathers, muscle, heart, kidney, and liver tissues of wild birds (golden eagle [ Aquila chrysaetos ], sparrowhawk [ Accipiter nisus ], and white stork [ Ciconia ciconia ]) from Hatay province, southern Turkey. The metal concentrations of tissues were determined by a validated ICP-OES analysis method after microwave digestion. The concentration differences of metals in species/tissues and the correlations between essential/non-essential metals were determined by statistical analysis. According to the results, Fe (326.87±3.60 mg kg -1 ) had the highest, and Hg (0.09±0.00 mg kg -1 ) had the lowest mean concentration in all tissues. Compared to the literature; Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn concentrations were lower; Cd, Fe, and Mn concentrations were higher. The correlations between As and all essentials; Cd and Cu, Fe; Hg and Cu, Fe, Zn; Pb and all essentials were significantly positive. In the conclusion, while essential Cu, Fe, and Zn are below the threshold value and do not pose a risk, Mn is close to the threshold value. Therefore, periodically monitoring the pollutant concentrations in bioindicators is a key necessity for the early determination of biomagnification trends and prevention of potential toxic stress on wildlife ecology.