FISH PREY OF THE PERUVIAN TERN STERNULA LORATA ALONG THE NORTHERN COAST OF CHILE.

Scarce information is available on the trophic ecology and feeding habitats of the Peruvian Tern Sternula lorata. We searched 15 Peruvian Tern colonies along the coast of northern Chile during the breeding seasons of 2008 to 2018 to evaluate the tern's main food source. We collected samples of prey remains found near nests as well as prey items regurgitated by chicks and adults during our visits. We found that the Peruvian Tern is mainly piscivorous, secondarily feeding on some cephalopods and euphausiids. Pacific Saury Scomberesox saurus and Paloma Pompano Trachinotus paitensis were the main prey found near nests, but regurgitated prey was dominated by the Peruvian Anchoveta Engraulis ringens. Fish prey sizes ranged from 36 to 192 mm. These findings expand existing knowledge of the feeding ecology of this endangered seabird during its breeding season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]