Kingdom Animalia Genus Pterodroma Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Procellariidae Scientific name Pterodroma longirostris Higher classification Gadfly petrel Order Procellariiformes | |
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Similar Juan Fernández petrel, Gadfly petrel, Bird, De Filippi's petrel, Cook's petrel | ||
Stejneger s petrel november 2014 alexander selkirk island juan fernandez
The Stejneger's petrel (Pterodroma longirostris) is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. The bird is 26–31 cm in size, with a 53–66 cm wingspan.
This species is highly pelagic, rarely approaching land, except to nest and rear young. It occurs in the Pacific Ocean, nesting in the Juan Fernández Islands off Chile. It is a transequatorial migrant, finding its way to subtropical waters off Japan before returning to its nesting sites. It has been reported well off the west coast of the United States.
Stejneger's petrel nests in burrows. It prefers slopes and ridges in areas of dense fern forests. The population of this bird is decreasing due to introduced cats on its breeding islands. It is considered a vulnerable species because of its restricted breeding range.
The common name commemorates the Norwegian ornithologist Leonhard Hess Stejneger.
