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INTRODUCCIÓN
The Quiriquiri, Falco sparverius Linnaeus, 1758, also known as the American kestrel, is a bird that belongs to the Order Falconiformes, Family Falconidae. It is one of the smallest species of birds of prey in the world and has a wide geographic distribution in the American continent, including Brazil8,11,21. The species inhabits different ecosystems, including areas disturbed by human activities such as livestock farming and agriculture3.
This species is known to have a diverse diet, encompassing amphibians, birds, small mammals, and reptiles1,19, but invertebrates, such as insects, are also the most common and abundant prey3,16, which includes dragonflies. However, the available literature on this order in the diet of F. sparverius is imprecise and scarce1,3.
Dragonflies, Odonata, occur in the most diverse Brazilian ecosystems 2, acting as generalist predators14,18, as well as prey for other insects22,23, mammals4, spiders10, and birds9,17. Thus, they represent an important component of food chains.
In view of the above, the objective here is to provide information on the presence of Odonata in the diet of F. sparverius, which is justified by the relevance of these animals in food chains, both in natural and human-altered environments.
The occasional record of predation occurred on March 22, 2025, at 5:16 p.m., on a rural road in the municipality of Umuarama (23?50'22''S 53?13'53''W) in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. The site of observation of the interaction is a rural area close to the municipality, less than 5 km from downtown, where most of the properties are used for cattle raising.
The event was documented through direct observation and photographic recording (Canon R6 Mark II, Sigma 150-600 mm lens). The dragonfly was identified from the image by PhD Diogo Silva Vilela, IFSULDEMINAS, Campus Inconfidentes, and the falcon was identified by the ornithologist Professor PhD Mario Eric Cohn Haft, from the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA).
At the time of photographing, the bird was perched on a power line wire, approximately 5 m above the ground, holding an individual of Orthemis sp. (Libellulidae), with its claws (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Photographic record of predation on Ortemis sp. (Libellulidae) by Falco sparverius. Photo: José Adolfo Mota de Almeida.
The frequency with which Odonata are preyed upon by F. sparverius in Brazil remains uncertain due to the lack of published information, including images, on the Wikiaves platform (www.wikiaves.com.br). However, it is possible to hypothesize that these insects are common part of this bird`s diet, as dragonflies are considered an important source of energy for other falcon species, such as Falco subbuteo in England, especially for young birds5, as well as for other species of small European falcons (F. vespertinus, F. eleonorae, and F. concolor)6.
Another argument supporting the hypothesis raised is the fact that Odonata are abundant in the most diverse Brazilian terrestrial ecosystems2. Therefore, the wide geographic distribution of F. sparverius3) causes niche overlap, which, when combined with this bird's generalist habits, increases the probability of predation.
In addition to the presence of Odonata in the diet of Falconiformes, these insects are also prey for other bird orders, such as herons, Pelecaniformes20, Coraciiformes13, and Passeriformes12,15.
Further research is needed to understand the trophic implications of Odonata predation by falcons in both natural and human-altered environments, as these insects are important components of trophic chains as both prey and predators7,10.
We have added more information on the presence of dragonflies in the diet of Falco sparverius in Brazil. Further studies are recommended to broaden our understanding of the ecological implications of predation on Odonata and for the survival of this bird species. Reporting on specific and sporadic records, such as this one, is also important.
