DIET OF BARN OWLS (TYTO ALBA) IN NORTHERN BELIZE.

Diet of the barn owl (Tyto alba) has been well studied in temperate regions of the world, but there is a notable paucity of dietary data from the Neotropics. In this study, we examined diet of barn owls at Gold Button Lagoon in northern Belize. Pellets and prey remains were collected at roosting sites during 1997-1998. Diet was composed primarily of small mammals. Sigmodon hispidus was the most common prey in terms of frequency of occurrence and biomass, with lesser numbers of other rodents being consumed. Similar to other reports for the Neotropics, barn owls in our study consumed relatively larger prey than conspecifics inhabiting temperate regions. Birds and amphibians were a minor component of diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]