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Eleonora's falcon trophic interactions with insects within its breeding range: A systematic review
Ioanna Angelidou1,2,3, Thomas Hadjikyriakou4, Alexander N G Kirschel5
1Department of Environment, School of Environment, Ionian University, Zakynthos, GR-29100, Greece.
Open Life Sciences
|November 10, 2025
Summary
Eleonora's falcon primarily eats insects during pre-breeding and breeding, with over 120 species identified. This study details their foraging behavior and prey diversity in the Mediterranean.
Area of Science:
- Ornithology
- Ecology
- Predator-Prey Dynamics
Background:
- Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae) exhibits seasonal dietary shifts, crucial for understanding raptor ecology.
- Insects form a significant part of the diet outside the chick-rearing period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review Eleonora's falcon foraging behavior during pre-breeding and breeding phases.
- To emphasize and document insect prey composition within its global breeding range.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
- Literature search across major scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar).
- Inclusion of peer-reviewed and grey literature up to 2024 from ten Mediterranean countries and the Canary Islands.
Main Results:
- 120 insect species and morphospecies from 47 families were identified as prey.
- Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Hemiptera were the most frequently consumed insect orders.
- Documented migratory insects, including Acherontia atropos and Anax species.
Conclusions:
- This review provides a comprehensive overview of Eleonora's falcon's insectivorous prey during critical breeding periods.
- Contributes essential data for future research on the dietary ecology of Eleonora's falcon and related raptor species.
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