Kingdom Animalia Order Procellariiformes Scientific name Halobaena caerulea Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Procellariidae Higher classification Halobaena | |
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Genus HalobaenaBonaparte, 1856 Similar Bird, Antarctic prion, Prion, Slender‑billed prion, Pachyptila | ||
The blue petrel (Halobaena caerulea) is a small seabird in the shearwater and petrel family Procellariidae. This small petrel is the only member of the genus Halobaena, but is closely allied to the prions.
Contents
- Gheist blue petrel exploited
- Taxonomy
- Description
- Feeding
- Breeding
- Distribution and habitat
- Conservation
- References
Gheist blue petrel exploited
Taxonomy
The blue petrel is the only bird from the genus Halobaena, and a member of the Procellariiformes order. They share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. The bills of Procellariiformes are unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. They produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. Finally, they also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.
The word "petrel" is derived from Saint Peter and the story of his walking on water. This is in reference to the petrel's habit of appearing to run on the water to take off.
Description
The blue petrel's plumage is white underneath and grey on its upper parts, with an "M" banding across its top, which is similar to the prion's. It also has a white-tipped tail. Its bill is smaller than prions.
Feeding
They feed predominantly on krill, as well as other crustaceans, fish, and squid. They can dive up to at 6 m (20 ft).
Breeding
The blue petrel like all members of the Procellariiformes are colonial, and have large colonies. Their nest is a burrow, and they lay one egg. Both parents incubate the egg for approximately 50 days and the chick fledges after 55 days. Skua are the main danger for their eggs and chicks.
Distribution and habitat
They inhabit the southern oceans ranging as far north as South Africa, Australia and portions of South America. Previously thought to only breed in a narrow latitudinal band from 47° to 56° S on either side of the Antarctic Polar Front. Nesting on subantarctic islands, such as Marion Island, the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Macquarie Island, South Georgia, Prince Edward Island.
In 2014 a breeding colony was discovered on Gough Island (40° S, 10° W), central South Atlantic Ocean, more than 700 km north of its known breeding range. Breeding here appears to take place later than at colonies farther south, although the discovery is recent it does not necessarily represent a recent range extension.
Conservation
The blue petrel has a very large range and an estimate population of 3,000,000 adult birds and thus it is rated as Least Concern, by the IUCN.