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What do sheathbills eat in Antarctic regions?
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Charadriiform
Crab plover (Dromas ardeola)
Sheathbills (family Chionididae) are opportunistic feeders in Antarctic regions, consuming a diverse diet that includes:
- Animal prey: They act as predators, eating the eggs and nestlings of penguins, cormorants, and other birds.12
- Marine life: Their diet includes algae, limpets, various mollusks, crustaceans, and fish.12
- Scavenged material: They frequently consume the feces and afterbirths of seals, as well as offal and human refuse found near stations.12
Because they inhabit harsh environments, sheathbills avoid overdependence on a single food source by utilizing these varied foraging habits.2