The OS-Prey (Omnibus Study of Prey) database: A compilation of diet records for birds of prey.

Abstract

MotivationThe diet composition of a predator is a direct reflection of its role in a food web, resulting from interactions with prey species. Raptors (including hawks, owls, and falcons) are ubiquitous predators with diverse diets, yet there is no comprehensive database of raptor diet composition. We present a database of over 3500 raw raptor diet records, compiled from more than 1000 studies and representing 173 raptor species from across the world. Our dataset complements existing qualitative summaries of species diets by compiling thousands of quantitative diet "samples" over time and space to present diet data at a uniquely fine resolution. Main types of variable containedThe database comprises published records of raptor diets from pellets, prey remains, direct or photographic observations, prey DNA, and raptor gut or gullet contents. For each diet, we present the taxonomic identity and amounts of consumed prey. We additionally present various metadata for each diet such as location, habitat, and season. Spatial location and grainThe study incorporates diet records collected worldwide, with each record assigned geographic coordinates corresponding to the location where the diet information was obtained. Time period and grainThe database includes diet records from 1893 to 2025. We report a year for each diet record. Major taxa and level of measurementWe recorded raptor diet at the species level, including raptors from three orders: Strigiformes, Falconiformes and Accipitriformes excluding vultures. Most prey are identified to species, but prey taxonomic level varies depending on the extent to which they could be identified. Software formatDiet records and metadata are provided in two files with comma-separated value (.csv) format.