Common Ravens (Corvus corax) Prey on Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) Eggs, Chicks, and Possibly Adults

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2015

Keywords

CORVUS corax, BEHAVIOR, BIRDS -- Behavior, BILL (Anatomy), RESEARCH, PREDATION (Biology), ALCIDAE, Cerorhinca monocerata, Common Ravens, predation, Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, Rhinoceros Auklets

Abstract

We observed Common Ravens ( Corvus corax) on Protection Island, Washington that used their bills to dig into the nesting burrows of Rhinoceros Auklets ( Cerorhinca monocerata) and prey on auklet eggs. In addition, we observed a raven fly away from a burrow with an auklet chick, a raven attack and unsuccessfully attempt to capture an adult auklet, and a raven fly with and feed on a freshly killed adult auklet. Although Common Ravens have been reported to prey on Rhinoceros Auklets' eggs, to our knowledge this is the first report of a raven preying on a chick and the first report of an attempt by a raven to capture an adult auklet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Wilson Journal of Ornithology is the property of Wilson Ornithological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.

Journal Title

Wilson Journal of Ornithology

Volume

127

Issue

2

First Page

336

Last Page

339

First Department

Biology

Second Department

Mathematics

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