THE FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF GOLDENEYE BUCEPHALA CLANGULA IN GREAT BRITAIN

Abstract

Summary.The food and feeding habits of Goldeneye Bucephala clangula are described, based on the analyses of 51 stomach contents and a brief review of the literature. The type of food taken depends on the type of habitat being used, the availability and size of the food items and on the methods of feeding—though animal material largely predominates.In estuarine and coastal areas, small crustaceans and in particular Carcinus maenas figured highly in the diet, with some molluscs and small fish. In two brackish‐water feeding birds, seeds formed the bulk of the food, some caddis‐fly larvae also being taken. In freshwater feeding birds insects predominated, particularly Trichoptera larvae, chironomid larvae and the adults of Corixa spp. Some crustaceans (Asellus, Gammarus) and small molluscs were taken and occasionally small fish. A small amount of plant material was taken in the form of seeds, mainly Potamogeton spp.The relation between Goldeneye and fishing interests is briefly discussed and it is concluded that fish normally form a small part of the diet and it is unlikely that any serious depredation of fish stocks is common.