During the breeding season, little auks feed mainly on zooplankton, including copepods, amphipods, and krill. They also eat some small fish, such as sand lance, and other invertebrates, such as squid and shrimp.
In the winter, when zooplankton is less abundant, little auks switch to a diet that consists mostly of small fish, such as capelin, sand lance, and herring. They also eat some invertebrates, such as squid and shrimp.
Little auks are opportunistic feeders and will take advantage of any available food source. They have been known to eat insects, berries, and even small mammals.