FOOD AND FEEDING SITES OF THE EURASIAN SPOONBILL (PLATALEA-LEUCORODIA) IN SOUTHWESTERN SPAIN

We analyzed the food competition of 47 regurgitations and 11 stomach c ontents from nestling Eurasian Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) in the colony of thr estuary of the Odiel River (southwestern Spain). With a single exception, all prey consumed by nestlings were saltwater aquat ic animals. Fish, particularly killfish (Fundulus spp.), were the most common and abundant component of the diet, accounting for 71% of the prey items. Prawns (Palaemonidae) appeared in half the food samples an d accounted for 19% of the prey items. Relative abundance of potential prey at foraging habitat and in the diet suggests that fish were pref erred over other prey types. The mean body length of the fish found in thr food sample was greater than that at foraging habitats.