Hunting of Small Mammals Nesting in Tree Cavities by Forest-Dwelling Birds

Abstract

We investigated whether forest-dwelling birds hunt small mammals nesting in tree cavities. Camera traps were installed in front of the tree cavities where flying squirrels (Pteromys momonga and P. volans) were nesting from December 2017 to November 2019 on Honshu Island, and from September 2021 to April 2022 on Hokkaido Island, Japan. These cameras also observed the behavior of the visiting predators. As a result, a Crow Corvus sp. and a Ural Owl Strix uralenesis hunted P. momonga and P. volans, respectively. Both birds hunted in the outer and inner shallow parts of tree cavities. These observations provide information to help understand the diversity of hunting sites for forest-dwelling birds.