The stomach contents of Antarctic petrels Thalassoica antarctica feeding young chicks at Scullin Monolith,Mawson Coast,Antarctica

Summary Antarctic petrels (Thalassoica antarctica) brooding young chicks at Scullin Monolith (67°7S, 66°42E), Antarctica, fed fish and crustaceans (87% and 13%, respectively, on a mass basis) to their young. Amounts of solids fed were equivalent to 6.6% of the body mass of adult birds with an empty stomach. The prey comprised species known to occur in the surface layers of the Antarctic ocean in the east wind drift, such as Pleuragramma antarcticum, Notolepis coatsi and Euphausia superba, consistent with the surface feeding habits of Antarctic petrels.