The birds of Pasvik / E. I. Khlebosolov, O. A. Makarova, O. A. Khlebosolova [et al. ; English transl. Nikita Chernetsov]. - Ryazan : Golosgubernii, 2007. - 175 с. : ил., портр.

flush prey and take it when it is escaping (Semenov-Tian-Shansky & Gilyazov 1991, Melnikov 1999). The Sparrowhawk , like Goshawk, uses forest habitats and is a specialised pred­ ator o f birds (Fig. 2.4). Its foraging techniques are similar to those o f the Goshawk, but the former species is smaller and takes mainly small passerines (Semenov-Tian- Shansky & Gilyazov 1991). The Merlin lives in the study area in various habitats, including shores o f rivers and lakes, forest edges, old forest fire sites, swamps, mountain tundra (Fig. 2.4). It is a typical predator o f birds. Its diet mainly consists o f small passerines and waders living in open habitats. The Merlin can also take mice and voles and insects. This predator suddenly attacks from a hide by low flight. Merlins cannot take a bird sit­ ting on the ground or in the branches, therefore they flush the prey and attack in the air (Semenov-Tian-Shansky & Gilyazov 1991, Melnikov 2002). The Gyrfalcon is a bird of open habitats, i.e. mountain tundra, tundra forest, rocky sea shore (Fig. 2.4). The individuals breeding on the coast mainly take gulls and alcids, whereas the tundra birds feed on Willow and Rock Ptarmigans (K ischinski 1958, Shklyarevich & Krasnov 1980, Sem enov-T ian-Shansky & Gilyazov 1991, Morozov 2000). Gyrfalcons usually take their prey in the air. When they notice a flying ptarmigan or other birds, they pursuit it and hit it with their feet. Large prey is hit to the ground, dismembered and eaten. Sometimes Gyrfalcons catch small mammals. Peregrine Falcons usually occur in open lowland tundra with many rivers, lakes, and swamps. They also breed in mountain tundra (Fig. 2.4). Their diet consists of waders, small waterfowl, and passerines. Sometimes Peregrines take rodents (Osmolovskaya 1958, Danilov 1984, Kalyakin 1989, Paskhalny et al. 2000). They look for prey during protracted search flight, sometimes high above the ground. When they notice a flying bird, they swoop, capture it or hit it to the ground with their feet. Sometimes Peregrines wait for prey sitting on a precipice or on a rock and follow it like Gyrfalcons. Small bird-eating raptors have certain behavioural and ecological differences that allow them to occupy different ecological niches and to co-exist in the natural ecosystems o f Pasvik. Hawks, unlike falcons, inhabit closed forest habitats and for­ age m ainly by sitting and waiting and by a sudden attack. Goshawk and Sparrowhawk use similar habitats but differ in their size and in the size o f their prey. Falcons use open areas and take their prey by a short attack at high speed or after a long pursuit. Like hawks, the three falcon species differ in their size and thus in the size o f their prey. Merlins mainly feed on small passerines living in wetlands, forest fire sites, forest edges, in the mountain tundra. Such local open areas exist in prac- 87