The winter diet of thick-billed murres, Uria lomvia, in western Greenland, 1988–1989

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Falk, Knud, Durinck, Jan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1993
• Subjects: Greenland; Meganyctiphanes norvegica; Uria lomvia; uria
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z93-038; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z93-038

The diet of thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) wintering in coastal western Greenland was studied by analyzing the stomach contents of 202 birds supplied by local hunters in four regions, from October 1988 to March 1989. Fish and crustaceans were present in 68 and 71% (frequency of occurrence), respectively, of all stomachs containing prey remains (n = 195). Fish made up 81% wet weight, and crustaceans most of the remaining 19%, except for < 1% squid (Gonatus sp.) and polychaetes (Nereis sp.). Capelin (Mallotus villosus) was the dominant prey species (61% wet weight), followed by Thysanoessa spp. (17%), Parathemisto spp. (1%), and Meganyctiphanes norvegica (1%). Euphausiids were the most abundant crustaceans (95% wet weight of all crustaceans), except in October, when hyperid amphipods were dominant (89%). Crustaceans were important in the murres' diet only in the northern part of the survey area; birds in the southern part preyed almost exclusively upon capelin. Most birds were in good body condition (based on the amount of body fat), but murres from the southern area had a slightly higher mean fat index than those from the northern area (7.19 vs. 5.35). We suggest that differences in body condition may be related to the higher proportion of fish, which is of higher caloric value, in the diet of murres in the southern area.