Research overview: jaguarundi diet and ground foraging

Dietary studies describe the jaguarundi as a terrestrial hunter taking a high proportion of birds along with small mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. This overview synthesizes scat and observational data showing the cat foraging actively on or near the ground in open and edge habitats, where its quick, low-slung movement suits pursuit of ground birds and rodents. The relatively high reliance on birds distinguishes its diet from that of more rodent-focused small cats. This foraging niche, combined with diurnal activity and a preference for open habitats, helps the jaguarundi partition resources from other Neotropical felids. Understanding the diet clarifies the species ecological role and its capacity to exploit disturbed and edge landscapes that other forest cats avoid.