Wedge-tailed shearwater

Puffinus pacificus

Photo by Tony Morris (Flickr)

Common name:
wedge-tailed shearwater (en); pardela-do-Pacífico (pt); puffin fouquet (fr); pardela del Pacífico (es); keilschwanz-sturmtaucher (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Procellariidae

Range:
This species is found throughout the tropical water of the Indian and Pacific oceans, roughly between 35º S and 35º N. They breed on a wide range of oceanic islands, both in the pacific and the Indian, as well as in the west and east coasts of Australia.

Size:
These birds are 46-47 cm long and have a wingspan of 97-99 cm. They weigh around 400 g.

Habitat:
The wedge-tailed shearwater forages in pelagic, tropical and sub-tropical waters, typically preferring waters with a surface temperature above 21º C. They mainly breed in
vegetated islands, atolls and cays, but also on continental coasts in Australia.

Diet:
They feed on pelagic fish, squids and crustacean, the most common prey being goatfishes such as Decapterus macrosoma and the Symplecoteuthis sp. squids.

Breeding:
Wedge-tailed shearwaters are monogamous with pair bonds lasting for several years. Northern hemisphere birds begin breeding around February, while southern hemisphere birds begin around September. They nest in a burrow excavated on flat or flattish areas with dense grassy and tussocky vegetation , or sometimes below the cover of trees and scrubs. The female lays a single egg which is incubated by both sexes for about 50 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 103-115 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population estimated to be above 5,2 million individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to unsustainable levels of exploitation, persecution, predation by invasive species and the over-exploitation of tuna fisheries.

Westland petrel

Procellaria westlandica

Photo by Mark Jobling (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Westland petrel (en); petrel-de-Westland (pt); puffin du Westland (fr); pardela de Westland (es); Westlandsturmvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae

Range:
This species is endemic to New Zealand, only breeding in coastal foothills at Punakaiki, South Island. Outside the breeding season they spread over a large area of the southern Pacific Ocean, from the coast of south-eastern Australia to the coast of Chile.

Size:
These large petrels are 50-55 cm long and have a wingspan of 135-140 cm. They weigh 0,8-1,2 kg.

Habitat:
They breed in densely forested hill and coastal cliff, up to an altitude of 250 m. They mainly forage on the open ocean, but also in intertidal areas and in sub-tidal coastal kelp forests and seagrasses.

Diet:
The Westland petrel hunts cephalopods, fishes and crustaceans, also following trawlers to scavange fishing waste.

Breeding:
These birds breed in May-November. They form breeding colonies, with each pair building a large, cavernous burrows, up to 2 m long, close to steep slopes, cliff edges or trees from where they can take off. There the female lays a single egg which is incubated for 57-65 days. The chicks fledge 20-40 days after hatching and then head out to the open ocean, not returning to the colony for 5 years. They reach sexual maturity at 10 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
The Westland petrel has a very small breeding range and a global population estimated at 10.700 individuals. The population is believed to be stable, but there are several significant threats, namely habitat loss due to mining and agriculture and nest predation by introduced mammals such as cats and dogs and the native weka Gallirallus australis. Other threats include by-catch by long-line fishing vessels, and increased tourism.

Bulwer's petrel

Bulweria bulwerii

Photo by Martin Lofgren (Wild Bird Gallery)

Common name:
Bulwer's petrel (en); alma-negra (pt); pétrel de Bulwer (fr); petrel de Bulwer (es); Bulwersturmvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae


Range:
The Bulwer's petrel is a pantropical species, being found in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Breeding sites include the eastern Atlantic from the Azores, Portugal to Cape Verde, and the Pacific from eastern China and the Bonin Islands, Japan, east to the Hawaii and the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia.


Size:
These birds are 25-29 cm long and have a wingspan of 70-90 cm. They weigh 80-130 g.


Habitat:
They are marine and highly pelagic, usually being found far from land foraging in warm oceanic waters. They breed in small rocky islands.


Diet:
The Bulwer's petrel mainly feeds on mesopelagic prey, particularly luminescent species such as myctophid and sternoptychid fishes and squids such as Pyroteuthis margaritifera. They also eat planktonic life forms. They mostly forage at night, when these deep sea species visit the surface of the sea.


Breeding:
In the Atlantic they breed in April-October. They are colonial, nesting in natural burrows, crevices, cracks or caves, under debris or vegetation cover, usually about 1 m deep. There the female lays 1 egg which is incubated by both parents for 42-46 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 60-65 days after hatching. Each pair raises a single chicks per year.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
The Bulwer's petrel has a relatively large breeding range and a global population estimated at 500.000-1.000.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Trindade petrel

Pterodroma arminjoniana

Photo by Steve Howell (Seabirding Pelagic Trips)

Common name:
Trindade petrel (en); grazina-de-Trindade (pt); pétrel de Trindade (fr); petrel de la Trindade (es); Südtrinidad-sturmvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae


Range:
This species is only found breeding on the islands of Trindade and Martim Vaz, off the coast of Brazil, but they cover wide areas of the southern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans while searching for food.


Size:
These birds are 35-39 cm long and have a wingspan of 88-102 cm. They weigh around 320 g.


Habitat:
Trindade petrels breed in rocky islands and forage out in the open sea.


Diet:
They mostly eat small fishes and cephalopods.


Breeding:
The Trindade petrel can breed all year round, but with a peak in October-April. They form dense colonies, nesting in crevices and other cliff-cavities, in the highest parts of the islands. The female lays a single eggs, which is incubated by both parents for 49-54 days. The chick is fed by both parents and fledges 9-11 weeks after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a very small breeding range and the global population is estimated at 1.130-15.000 individuals. The population is believed to be stable as there are no major threats, but the small breeding range and population size makes the Trindade petrel susceptible to stochastic events and future human impacts that could arise from naval activities and the spread of wind turbines.