**2.22** *Glaucidium griseiceps*

No data from Ecuador and its diet elsewhere are also poorly known, but possibly include insects, spiders, and small vertebrates [40].

#### **2.23** *Glaucidium brasilianum ucayalae*

Stomach contents of four museum specimens (QCAZ 1452, ANSP 186790, FMNH 316441, MECN 783) had Coleoptera and other insects' remains [23].

#### **2.24** *Glaucidium peruanum*

Stomach contents of four museum specimens (MECN 3921 [ex 392], 6134, 6302; QCAZ 3658, LSUMZ 77569) contained remains of the orders Coleoptera, Odonata, Orthoptera, and other unidentified insects [23]. Additionally, there is a photographic record of an adult with a *Holcosus septemlineatus* lizard on its talons, taken in Uzcurrumi, El Oro province (Bravo X., in litt, **Figure 3**). Another photographic record, taken in Puerto López, Manabí province, involves the geckoo *Phyllodactylus reissii* [41]. This observation was made at night. There is an additional observation of an adult preying upon a *Microlophus occipitalis* lizard in Zapotillo, Loja province (JF. Freile pers. obs.).

#### **2.25** *Athene cunicularia*

*A. c. pichinchae:* There are only three specimens (MECN 8754, 8755, 8756) of this common and widespread taxon with stomach contents information, which are only insects. There is only one study of its diet, in a sample of 40 pellets from Piedra Labrada, Loja province, was found 84 rodent prey, 1 reptile, 7 frogs, 593 insects, and 187 other invertebrates. Insects were the most important prey in terms of frequency (80%) and rodents in biomass contribution (95%) [42]. In another sample of 368 pellets from Tababela, Pichincha province, was found 13 rodent preys, 2 reptiles, 156 insects, and 25 other invertebrates. Insects were the most important prey in terms of frequency (68%) and rodents in biomass contribution (75%) [42].

*A. c. punensis:* Stomach contents of two museum specimens (MECN 779, 6303) had remains of Orthoptera [23]. There is also an observation of predation on frog *Rhinella marina* in Macará, Loja (JF. Freile pers. obs.).

All studies available for this taxon are consistent with insects as the most important prey in frequency and rodents in biomass contribution [16, 43–45]. The largest pellet sample studied included 300 pellets from Atahualpa, Santa Elena province; it reported 1981 invertebrates, 266 mammals, 10 reptiles, and 3 birds [43]. This work reports two *G. peruanum* as prey, based on bills in the pellets, but there are no further details. There are no previous reports of intra-guild predation by *A. cunicularia*, and it remains plausible that the bill could have been misidentified.

Another study from Jambelí, El Oro province, reported 929 insects, 165 other invertebrates, 151 introduced rodents, and 19 birds, in 182 pellets [44]. Further, in 48 pellets collected in Zapotillo, Loja province, 503 insects, 9 frogs (Bufonidae), 9 wolf spiders (Lycosidae), and 5 scorpions were included [16]. Lastly, a sample of 50 pellets from Calceta, Manabí province, included 544 insects and 16 rodents as preys [45].

No information about subspecies *A. c. carrikeri*, which is apparently spreading along river islands in the Amazon lowlands [33].

### **2.26** *Aegolius harrisii harrisii*

There is no diet information for this subspecies. König et al. [40] mention small vertebrates and insects as probable prey.

*What Do We Know about the Diet of Ecuadorian Owls? DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108594*

#### **Figure 3.**

Glaucidium peruanum *preying upon a lizard* Holcosus septemlineatus *in El Oro, May 2019, 14 h30. Photo: Courtesy of Xavier Bravo Guerrero.*

#### **2.27** *Asio clamator clamator*

Stomach contents of one museum specimen (QCAZ 1413) from Bahía de Caráquez, Manabí province, had an opossum *Marmosa simonsi* [23].

A study of 72 pellets and 284.4 g of pellet debris from Atahualpa, Santa Elena province, also included 1 *M. simonsi*, 351 rodents, 12 birds, 310 reptiles, 3 frogs

*Ceratophrys stolzmanni*, and 468 insects [46]; insects were the most important prey in terms of frequency (41%) and reptiles in biomass contribution (58%). Authors reported seasonal differences in diet with greater consumption of mammals and reptiles during the dry season, and of insects in the wet season.

Another study is in progress in Cuenca, Azuay province, found principally rodents in its pellets (H. Cadena-Ortiz et al. unpubl.). This study is in an unusual locality for the owl, because there are scarce records from Andean valleys and cities [33].

#### **2.28** *Asio stygius robustus*

Cadena-Ortiz et al. [47] studied 38 pellets, 127 g of pellet debris and seven prey remains from Quito, Pichincha province, and reported 136 birds, 1 bat, and 20 Coleoptera. The dove *Zenaida auriculata* was the most important prey in terms of frequency (74%) and biomass contribution (91%). There is an additional observation of predation on *Z. auriculata* in Tumbaco, Pichincha province (JF. Freile pers. obs.).

### **2.29** *Asio flammeus*

*Asio f. bogotensis:* 55 rodent preys, 30 other mammals, 8 birds, 1 reptile, 1 frog, and 72 Coleoptera were found in 52 pellets in three locations of Pichincha province [48]. Mammals were the most important prey in terms of frequency (51%) and biomass contribution (87%). Another study of 163 pellets collected in Antisana, Napo province, included 112 rodent preys, 111 *Sylvilagus andinus*, and 19 Coleoptera. *S. andinus* was the most important prey in terms of frequency (46%) and biomass contribution (78%) [49].

*A. f. galapagoensis:* Only five publications exist on the diet of this Galapagos endemic subspecies. First by de Groot [20], who sampled 213 pellets from six islands (Santa Cruz, Champion, Española, Genovesa, Pitt, and Plaza) and found 58 introduced rodents, 320 birds, and 32 invertebrates*.* A recent study of 45 pellets reported 47% rodents, 37% birds, and 15% insects [21, 22]. Details of specific prey found in the latter study will be published elsewhere. There is also a report of predation of the Galapagos marine iguana *Amblyrhynchus cristatus* from Isabela Island [50] and the species is known to prey upon seabird nestlings, including storm-petrels [51].
