Birds of prey in medieval Britain relied heavily on scavenging human waste and scraps, a new study has revealed. Researchers analysing more than 30 bird skeletons found that species such as red kites, common buzzards, and white-tailed eagles had diets strikingly different from their modern counterparts.
The research, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, examined chemical signatures in bird bones dating back up to 4,000 years. It found that many birds living near medieval towns like Oxford, Winchester, and Northampton fed extensively on discarded human food rather than hunting live prey. These birds were not just occasional scavengers but integral parts of urban ecosystems.
Juliette Waterman, lead researcher at the University of Reading, explained: “Historical records show medieval red kites stole food from markets and snatched morsels from people’s hands. Some kites showed evidence of eating entirely human-sourced food—a diet very different from modern birds, which mainly hunt rabbits and small mammals.”
Scavengers in the Streets
The study analysed bones from 11 red kites, 18 common buzzards, and three white-tailed eagles discovered at archaeological sites across Britain. Stable isotope analysis revealed that medieval raptors often had chemical signatures similar to humans, indicating their diets were closely tied to urban refuse, including butchery waste and livestock carrion.
Interestingly, medieval red kites and buzzards consumed food from higher trophic levels, reflecting a reliance on meat-based scraps from human settlements. These findings align with historical accounts of red kites frequenting markets and stealing food from kitchens. In medieval Oxford, several red kites had exceptionally high nitrogen levels in their bones, suggesting diets rich in meat-based human waste.
From Refuse to Resources
Three large birds of prey in a 13th-century manuscript – British Library MS Harley 4751 fol. 35v
The absence of wild rabbits in Britain before the medieval period likely pushed birds of prey to find alternative food sources in human settlements. This reliance on human-generated waste helped them thrive in urban areas but also contributed to mixed perceptions. While they were valued for cleaning streets of waste, birds like red kites were also classified as vermin under medieval laws.
Medieval Patterns, Modern Parallels
The scavenging behaviour of medieval raptors mirrors that of their modern descendants in urban areas like Reading, where red kites often feed on food waste and garden scraps. Conservationists today can draw lessons from the past, as the medieval relationship between humans and raptors underscores the birds’ ability to adapt to urban environments.
The study’s findings shed light on the unique ecological niche of medieval birds of prey and provide a historical perspective on the challenges and opportunities for managing their growing populations in modern cities. By understanding their historical reliance on human environments, conservation efforts can better address the coexistence of humans and raptors in urban spaces.
Very glad to share the findings from my PhD work on raptors from archaeological sites, showing an early pattern of urban scavenging! #archaeobirds
The article, “Tracking 4000 years of raptor diets through isotope analysis reveals urban scavenging with implications for conservation,” by Juliette Waterman, Stuart Black, Naomi Sykes, William F. Mills, Sean Doherty, Hannah Britton, Riley Smallman, Alison Sheridan, Andrew C. Kitchener and Mark D.E. Fellowes, is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Click here to read it.
Top Image: Detail of a miniature of different types of hawks, from Brunetto Latini’s Livres dou Tresor, c. 1315-1325, Yates Thompson MS 19, f. 54r
Birds of prey in medieval Britain relied heavily on scavenging human waste and scraps, a new study has revealed. Researchers analysing more than 30 bird skeletons found that species such as red kites, common buzzards, and white-tailed eagles had diets strikingly different from their modern counterparts.
The research, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, examined chemical signatures in bird bones dating back up to 4,000 years. It found that many birds living near medieval towns like Oxford, Winchester, and Northampton fed extensively on discarded human food rather than hunting live prey. These birds were not just occasional scavengers but integral parts of urban ecosystems.
Juliette Waterman, lead researcher at the University of Reading, explained: “Historical records show medieval red kites stole food from markets and snatched morsels from people’s hands. Some kites showed evidence of eating entirely human-sourced food—a diet very different from modern birds, which mainly hunt rabbits and small mammals.”
Scavengers in the Streets
The study analysed bones from 11 red kites, 18 common buzzards, and three white-tailed eagles discovered at archaeological sites across Britain. Stable isotope analysis revealed that medieval raptors often had chemical signatures similar to humans, indicating their diets were closely tied to urban refuse, including butchery waste and livestock carrion.
Interestingly, medieval red kites and buzzards consumed food from higher trophic levels, reflecting a reliance on meat-based scraps from human settlements. These findings align with historical accounts of red kites frequenting markets and stealing food from kitchens. In medieval Oxford, several red kites had exceptionally high nitrogen levels in their bones, suggesting diets rich in meat-based human waste.
From Refuse to Resources
The absence of wild rabbits in Britain before the medieval period likely pushed birds of prey to find alternative food sources in human settlements. This reliance on human-generated waste helped them thrive in urban areas but also contributed to mixed perceptions. While they were valued for cleaning streets of waste, birds like red kites were also classified as vermin under medieval laws.
Medieval Patterns, Modern Parallels
The scavenging behaviour of medieval raptors mirrors that of their modern descendants in urban areas like Reading, where red kites often feed on food waste and garden scraps. Conservationists today can draw lessons from the past, as the medieval relationship between humans and raptors underscores the birds’ ability to adapt to urban environments.
The study’s findings shed light on the unique ecological niche of medieval birds of prey and provide a historical perspective on the challenges and opportunities for managing their growing populations in modern cities. By understanding their historical reliance on human environments, conservation efforts can better address the coexistence of humans and raptors in urban spaces.
The article, “Tracking 4000 years of raptor diets through isotope analysis reveals urban scavenging with implications for conservation,” by Juliette Waterman, Stuart Black, Naomi Sykes, William F. Mills, Sean Doherty, Hannah Britton, Riley Smallman, Alison Sheridan, Andrew C. Kitchener and Mark D.E. Fellowes, is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Click here to read it.
Top Image: Detail of a miniature of different types of hawks, from Brunetto Latini’s Livres dou Tresor, c. 1315-1325, Yates Thompson MS 19, f. 54r
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