• DOI:10.1038/431039a
Corpus ID: 4351225

Animal behaviour: Use of dung as a tool by burrowing owls

@article{Levey2004AnimalBU,
  title={Animal behaviour: Use of dung as a tool by burrowing owls},
  author={D. Levey and R. Duncan and C. F. Levins},
  journal={Nature},
  year={2004},
  volume={431},
  pages={39-39}
}

• D. Levey, R. Duncan, C. F. Levins
• Published 2004
• Biology, Medicine
• Nature

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Reports of tool usage by birds tend to be anecdotal as only a few individuals may be involved and the behaviour observed can often be interpreted in other ways. Here we describe the widespread collection of mammalian dung by burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) and show that they use this dung as a bait to attract dung beetles, a major item of prey. Our controlled investigation provides an unambiguous estimate of the importance of tool use in a wild animal.