Infanticide and cannibalism by parents of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos): a case report in Sicily

Abstract

Parental infanticide followed by cannibalism remains a relatively understudied phenomenon, particularly among birds of prey. This behaviour, where parents kill their own offspring, is often considered an adaptive strategy for brood reduction in response to limited food availability during chick-rearing. In this brief report, we describe a case of siblicide followed by parental infanticide and cannibalism observed in a Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nest, monitored via webcam in Nebrodi Regional Park, Sicily (Italy). Using video footage from the entire breeding attempt, we documented the sequence of events in detail, including prey deliveries, feeding frequency for each chick, and the number and intensity of aggressive interactions from hatching to the chicks’ deaths. Our analysis suggests that the primary driver of this behavior was a severe shortage of food, likely linked to adverse weather conditions during the nesting period. We conclude that the infanticide and subsequent cannibalism were a result of insufficient prey provisioning caused by unfavorable climatic factors.