Arthropods in the nests of the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

In 2008 we analyzed nest material from 25 nests of the Common Kestrel nesting in the residential and rural areas of Bratislava. 4486 arthropod individuals were determined, belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Mesostigmata, Prostigmata, Astigmata, Oribatida, Diptera and Siphonaptera. The arthropod fauna in the nests of the Common Kestrel can be classified into 4 groups: mites, dipteran larvae, adult beetles and dipterans. Three families of avian ectoparasites were present, comprising 26% of the total arthropod abundance. The remaining 74% of arthropod abundance in the nests comprised coprophagous and nidicolous species.