Comparative study of diet of Indian eagle owl Bubo bengalensis from two distinct habitats

Abstract

A comparative study was carried out on the diet of the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis from two habitats, forest habitat of Melghat Tiger Reserve, and Agricultural area near Amravati City, Maharashtra, India during April 2012 and April 2013. Regurgitated pellets of this owl were analysed to understand the dietary composition and find out the variation in its food habits. The diet mainly comprised small mammals such as Suncus murinus (36.84%), Millardia meltada (31.50%) and Bandicoota bengalensis in forest habitat whereas Tatera indica (50%) and Mus species (40%), (showed to be acting as biological pest controller) in agricultural habitat. Shannon’s index was found to be more in forest habitat (2.42) than in agricultural habitat (1.61) indicating more generalized food habits.