FOODS OF MIGRATING CINNAMON TEAL IN CENTRAL NEW-MEXICO

Stomach contents of migrating Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) from fou r plant zones on Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexic o were studied. Cinnamon Teal consumed more animal than plant foods (e xpressed as percentage dry mass) during spring migration but more plan t than animal foods during fall migration. Animal food consumption was greatest in Cinnamon Teal collected from alkali (Scirpus maritimus)-t hree-square bulrush (S. americanus) and saltgrass (Distichlis stricta) habitats; plant consumption was highest in ducks collected from habit at dominated by annuals including smartweeds (Polygonum spp.), wild mi llets (Echinochloa spp.) and sprangletop (Leptochloa fascicularis), an d by cattail (Typha spp.)-hardstem bulrush (S. acutus) habitats during spring and fall migration. Chironomid larvae were the dominant animal consumed during spring migration; gastropods were the major animal co nsumed during fall migration. Seeds were dominant among plant material s in stomachs during both spring and fall migration and usually were f rom the major plant species found within the zone where the bird was c ollected. During spring, there was no difference in animal foods and m olt rank among habitat types.