Abstract

We provide information on the diet of the Magellanic Flightless Steamer-Duck (Tachyeres pteneres) in four continental islands of southern Chile during the Austral summer periods of the years 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014. A total of 293 feces were collected in Guamblin island, Guapiquilán island, Lacaos island and Guafo island. Based on these we identified 686 hard remains of invertebrates, marine vertebrates, and algae. Crabs (Cancridae) were the most common prey consumed across the four islands. The number of trophic categories fluctuated between 1 to 6 families/feces across the four islands. We found statistically significant differences in diet composition between the four islands. In Lacaos and Guapiquilán islands, the most consumed prey corresponded to crabs, while in Guafo and Guamblin islands the most consumed prey were mollusks (Mollusca).