Diet of little penguins, Eudyptula minor, from Penguin Island, Western Australia

Abstract

Between March 1986 and March 1987, the stomach contents of 236 little penguins on Penguin Island, Western Australia, were obtained using an emetic. The 1392 prey items identified included 16 fish species, one squid and one prawn, but four fishes comprised most of the birds' diet. Hyperlophus vittatus was taken throughout the year, Sardinops neopilchardus and Hyporhamphus melanochir mainly in winter and Spratelloides robustus during spring/summer. The penguins are largely opportunistic in their foraging and their diet appears to be similar to the fish species caught locally by commercial bait fishermen.