2025 APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2025 23(卷), 4(期), (7153-7167页)
This study focuses on the diet of the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, Linnaeus, 1758) in the Souf region, southeast Algeria, based on analysis of 46 regurgitated pellets. A total of 22 prey species were identified, spanning 5 orders and 11 families. Rodents were the primary food source, accounting for 63.8% of all prey items and 80.3% of the total biomass. The lesser Egyptian gerbil (Gerbillus gerbillus, Olivier, 1801) alone contributed 46.5% of the biomass. Insects constituted 27% of prey by number, while birds and reptiles contributed 11.6% and 5.9% of the biomass, respectively. An equitability index of approximately 0.73 reflects a balanced exploitation of available prey, consistent with the kestrel's generalist and opportunistic feeding behavior. These findings highlight its ecological role as a natural pest controller in agricultural landscapes. The study also contributes to regional faunistic knowledge and underscores the importance of conserving this raptor to support ecosystem stability and sustainable agriculture.