Food Habits of Selected Dabbling Ducks Wintering in Yucatan, Mexico

In Mexico, even basic data on waterfowl feeding ecology are lacking. Consequently, we studied the food habits of blue-winged teal (Anas discors), northern shovelers (A. clypeata), and northern pintails (A. acuta) in coastal wetlands of Yucatan, Mexico from October 1987 to March 1988. Blue-winged teal and northern shovelers consumed primarily gastropods (≥98% aggregate volume) from October to 15 December. Teal and northern pintails consumed primarily tubercles of muskgrass (Chara sp.; >96%) after 15 December. Northern shovelers continued to rely heavily on invertebrates (gastropods 23.2%, Corixidae 49.9%) after 15 December, but also consumed muskgrass tubercles (24.7%). Wetlands in Yucatan provide important habitat for wintering ducks and may benefit most from preservation.