Food habits of sea ducks from the north-eastern United States

Abstract

During the 1964-1965 hunting seasons, 274 gizzards of five sea duck species American Eider, White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, American Black Scoter, and Long-tailed Duck were collected from hunters at five localities between central Maine and Long Island, New York, in the United States of America. Based on occurrence and volume, the 16 most important foods are listed. Only animal material was consumed as food. Molluscs were by far the most important, particularly the blue mussel. Of the crustaceans, green crabs were the most important. The sand launce was the only fish found. None of the important food items are of economic importance in the United States.