- Aims: In the present study the diet and prey selection of Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos are studied from droppings recollected at an estuary from Northwest Spain, thus extending knowledge of this species biology.
Location: The study was carried out from material collected in the river Miño estuary, Pontevedra, Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
Methods: Information from the analysis of 343 droppings of Common Sandpiper collected during winter (October-February) is examined, tidal variation having taken into account. Prey selection has been studied (prey size and taxonomic selections) contrasting relative abundances from diet and substrate samples.
Results: During the winter the diet of this wader species was mainly composed of three marine invertebrates, the amphipod Talitrus saltator (46.9%), the polychaete Nereis diversicolor (39.0%) and the decapod Carcinus maenas (6.3%). Polychaetes and decapods were mainly consumed during low tide periods and sandhoppers consumption corresponded to high tide periods. Contrary to the breeding or migratory seasons, insects were little represented in the diet. Common Sandpiper carried out size and species selection. Although species-specific selection was not remarkable, some grade of selection was detected towards Nereis diversicolor and Talitrus saltator as all other invertebrates were rejected. Carcinus maenas was positively selected, mainly small sized individuals (juveniles). In energetic terms, such selection is conducted towards the consumption of prey with greater profitability.
Conclusions: The species shows a feeding behaviour characterized by a diet mainly composed by marine invertebrates reflecting a selection conducted, in energetic terms, towards the consumption of prey with a greater profitability.
