A medium-sized dark-colored petrel with a wingspan of about or slightly more than 1 m. In the field, it differs from other dark petrels of a similar size by silver-gray underwings.

On land, it moves quickly, relying on the tarsus. It swims and dives well both in flight and from the surface of the water. It rises easily from the water, often working its wings. The flight is fast and straight. In windy weather, the flight is swift and consists of high turns with alternating skidding and frequent flapping of the wings in an unbent position at the wrist. In calm weather, it flies low above the sea surface, alternating short periods of gliding with frequent wing beats.

Description

Coloring. There are no age, sex, or seasonal differences in plumage coloration. The whole body is brown-black, wings and tail are black. The underside of the body is slightly lighter. Underwings are silvery black. In some individuals, the underwings are darker and do not sharply contrast. The beak is blackish-gray, the legs are dark gray to gray-brown, the outer side is darker.

The first chick plumage is dark gray above, gray below. The beak is bluish-gray. The second chick plumage has a general brown background, somewhat lighter below.

Structure and dimensions

Wing length of males 271–312 (average 29), females 280–307 (average 30), beak of males 40–44 (average 42), females 38–44 (average 41), tarsals of males 51–58 (average 55), females 52–60 (average 56), tails of males 83–96 (average 88), females 86–92 (average 88). Weight 666–978 (average 787) g.

Moult

One molt per year. In the southern hemisphere, sexually mature individuals are in full plumage. At the end of summer, the molting of the plumage of the body begins. The main molt, including flight and tail ones, occurs in the northern hemisphere - May-August. Immature birds appear to molt earlier.

Subspecies taxonomy

monotypic appearance.

Spreading

Nesting area. It breeds in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean on the islands of Chatham, Snares, Stewart, Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Macquarie, as well as around the main islands of New Zealand, on small islands off the southeastern coast of Australia and Tasmania, in the South American region - on the islands of the Falkland (Malvinas), Staten, at Cape Horn and in the Strait of Magellan (Fig. 58).

Figure 58.
1 - main migration areas in the northern hemisphere, 2 - main migration areas in the southern hemisphere, 3 - nesting sites, 4 - directions and areas of northern migrations, 5 - directions and areas of southern migrations

Migrations

It makes seasonal flights to the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere during the breeding season, the bulk of gray petrels associated with breeding colonies are concentrated in areas of New Zealand, the southern coast of South America and the southeast coast of Australia. A large number of the gray petrel concentrates in the summer in the Australian-New Zealand sector of the Antarctic (up to 70 ° S). In particular, large accumulations are observed in the area of ​​the ice edge in January-March.

In the South American sector, the gray petrel also enters the waters of the Antarctic, but the migrations of Atlantic populations to the south are not widespread. Most of the birds remain in the temperate zone. The departure of the gray petrel to the northern hemisphere begins in mid-March and continues throughout April and early May. Immature individuals migrate first. In April, chicks are left and mature birds also fly north. In late April and early May, they are followed by grown-up young ones. In not in large numbers the gray petrel remains to winter in the southern hemisphere, while members of the American populations remain in the south, apparently in large quantities than New Zealand. From the New Zealand area, the gray petrel crosses the tropical zone of the Pacific Ocean with a wide front, where the main passage occurs between the Marshall and Marquesas Islands.

The tropical zone is overcome by the gray petrel quickly. Already at the end of the second decade of March, it appears near the Hawaiian Islands, at about the same time it begins to occur in the California region. The main mass arrives in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean in the second half of April and in May. It penetrates into the temperate zone on a broad front between Japan and the Hawaiian Islands and between the California region and the Hawaiian Islands. Off the Pacific coast of North America, birds migrating from the southwestern Pacific Ocean are joined by petrels of South American populations migrating along the eastern margin of the ocean.

In the Sea of ​​Japan, the gray petrel occurs in noticeable numbers in the northern summer only in the area of ​​the La Perouse and Sangarsky straits, as well as in the Tatar Strait. At the entrance to the La Perouse Strait, thousands of flocks sometimes accumulate, penetrating from the southern part of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. There is a lot of gray petrel in the southern part of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, especially between Sakhalin and Hokkaido, as well as in the South Kuril region. In the northern half of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, it is found everywhere, but in general in small quantities.

The gray petrel is numerous throughout the summer in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, but it forms significant concentrations here only at the latitude of Japan and the southern part of the Kuril Islands. Penetrates to the north to the Olyutorsky Bay. In the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, it occurs continuously from the Kuril Islands and Japan to North America. East of 170° E the number decreases, but again increases significantly off the American coast.

Migration of mature individuals to the south begins at the end of August and continues at the beginning of September. Departure of immature occurs from September to November. Some birds remain to winter in the northern hemisphere.

Through the tropical zone, the bulk of gray petrels fly in September and October between the Marshall and Marquesas Islands. In breeding areas, sexually mature individuals appear at the end of September, but the passage of immature individuals continues until December. Some of the immature individuals, bypassing the Australian-New Zealand region, immediately follow to the Antarctic.

Migrations of the gray petrel to the North Atlantic Ocean are less widespread. The passage to the north here occurs along the coast of South America. Some of the birds also migrate in the eastern part of the ocean. In the North Atlantic in spring-summer period, i.e. in May-July, the most common gray petrel occurs off the northeastern coast of North America, and in summer-autumn, i.e. in August-November - in the northeastern part of the ocean. The northern border in the Atlantic rises from the southern tip of Greenland to Iceland and into the Norwegian Sea. From the North Sea it regularly penetrates into the western part of the Baltic Sea, sometimes in noticeable quantities.

habitat

The gray petrel is abundant both in coastal shelf and oceanic areas.

population

One of the most numerous marine species birds. Total population is at least 10 million individuals. Most breed in the New Zealand area. The number in the South American and especially in the Australian regions is much smaller.

reproduction

Daily activity, behavior

During the marine period of life, the gray petrel is active at any time of the day. During the breeding season, the colonies are nocturnal. It nests only colonially, forming colonies of various sizes. At sea, it keeps both scattered and in flocks from small groups to tens of thousands.

Food

It feeds on squids, small fish and crustaceans. It feeds on the upper layers of the water. Willingly dives from the summer or from a position afloat. During feeding, they often gather in huge flocks and get food in a community with other seabirds.

Economic importance, protection

At the nesting sites, the local population prepares large quantities of fat chicks of the gray petrel, which are used for food. The gray petrel can be used as an indicator of productive areas and concentrations of pelagic fish. In Antarctic waters, flocks of gray petrel may indicate the presence of swarms of krill. The gray petrel is a very numerous species. Currently, it does not need special protective measures.

common petrels - seabirds that soar quickly, elegantly and easily over the water. Sometimes birds touch the waves with the tips of their long wings during their flight.
Basic data:
DIMENSIONS
Length: 30-38 cm.
Wingspan: 76-89 cm.
Weight: adult birds - 375-545g, chicks - up to 645g.

BREEDING
Puberty: from 5-6 years.
Nesting period: May-September.
Carrying: 1 per season.
Number of eggs: 1.
Hatching: 47-63 days.
Feeding chicks: 62-76 days.

LIFESTYLE
Habits: migratory.
Food: small fish, cuttlefish, crustaceans.
Sounds: hoarse cooing and whistling at nesting sites.
Life span: about 10 years.

In the spring, petrels return to nesting sites located near the western coasts of England and Ireland, where they themselves once were born. Birds come from the South Atlantic Ocean, and some of them even from distant Australia.
PLACE OF RESIDENCE
Petrels can be found in many oceans as they fly from the cold subarctic waters off the coast of Iceland to the tropical seas around South America. These seabirds also appear in the North and South Pacific. Petrels live in many parts of the world, but under the influence of a powerful instinct they return to their homeland, where they give life to the next generations. The long narrow wings of the petrel are designed so that the bird does not have to make much effort to fly. The petrel glides on outstretched wings supported by its jets of air.

FOOD
The petrel feeds mainly on small fish: herring, sprats and sardines, as well as cuttlefish and crustaceans. The bird hangs low above the water, fluttering its wings, then rushes to the prey, while its feet almost touch the surface of the sea. Sometimes the petrel attacks prey from a great height and even dives into the water after it. This bird hunts more willingly at night, when plankton, and with it other animals, rises to the surface. Common petrels observe the movement of large schools of fish and follow them in the air. They spend a lot of time and effort looking for food sources, overcoming hundreds of kilometers daily for feeding.

OR DO YOU KNOW THAT...

Like other representatives of a number of tube-noses, the nostrils in the petrel open into horny tubes. Scientists believe that with their help excess salt is removed from the body, and, in addition, the nose of this form is protected from water ingress.
The petrel's legs are carried far to the end of the body. Acting like propellers, they provide the bird with rapid movement in the water. On land, the petrel feels awkward: it walks slowly, helping itself with its beak and curved wings.
Petrels form permanent pairs, but partners stay alone for most of the year. Pairs join in the spring when it is time to return to their nesting sites.
The common petrel was first described in 1586 from members of the Isle of Man population.

Underground nest Burevestnik

Fearing enemies, the petrel nests on islands near the continent, laying a single white egg in a hole at a depth of up to 90 cm. The birds dig holes themselves or occupy the empty premises of rabbits.
The petrel moves slowly and clumsily on land, so it descends to the ground and feeds the chicks only at night.

LIVING PLACE
Shearwaters breed in the British Isles, on islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in New Zealand and on the coast of California. At other times of the year, birds are found in the South Atlantic Ocean, sometimes in the North Atlantic and in the Pacific Ocean.
PRESERVATION
Cats and rats brought to the islands are a great danger to nesting birds.

In the petrel family, birds are large and small: crumbs as tall as a thrush and such that albatrosses are not inferior in wingspan - 2.8 meters for giant petrels.

Different and habits: some are wanderers, like albatrosses. Giant petrels, following the east wind, circle the globe, others only hundreds of meters decide to move away from the pack ice of Antarctica, among which they seek food, mainly plankton. These are snow petrels from the pagodroma genus. Many of them nest in the mountains of Antarctica, 300 kilometers from the coast.

But the majority are on the shores of Antarctica and on some of the nearest islands north to South Georgia. In November - December, their nesting time begins. In March, the chicks leave the nests, but neither they nor the adult birds fly far. The appearance of these small, up to 40 centimeters, snow-white birds over the sea is a sure sign of close pack ice. The Antarctic petrels nesting with them (and in the same months) and the so-called Kagt doves in search of food scatter wider in the cold and temperate seas of the southern hemisphere.

Petrel. Photo: Mike Baird

Many petrels are not brightly colored, brown, in general, tones, many with a light belly, but Cape doves are piebald. They have large, visible from a distance black and white spots on the top of the wings and back. Sailors sailing in the southern latitudes know these birds well: they meet ships with cries and fly after them for a long time, picking up edible pieces thrown into the sea. In large, noisy flocks they gather on dead whales, seals, tear off and swallow fat and meat. Where there is a lot of plankton, there they are. The plates on the beak act as a filter, which helps Cape doves to fish even small crustaceans out of the water.

But even better, this useful adaptation is developed in whale petrels. Some have a wide beak, like a duck. They gather in millions of flocks in the seas of the southern hemisphere over accumulations of plankton. Having immersed the filter beak in the water and flapping its wings, while the body is almost all above the water, they quickly glide along the waves, picking up a mouthful of crustaceans and other planktonic trifles caught from the water according to the method of baleen whales, hence the name of these birds.

In some species, the filter is better developed, in others it is worse: the former feed on small plankton, the latter catch larger prey. Therefore, they nest at different times, even on the same islands: in such a way that when the chicks grow, the necessary food is in abundance in the sea. The duck-billed petrel, with the most perfect filter, which catches fine water the size of a pinhead, even in winter begins to dig a hole for a nest. But he is not in a hurry - only in September eggs will be laid in it, he nests on the islands of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans of the southern hemisphere, where it is winter, when we have summer.

Almost all species of the pterodroma genus live in the Pacific Ocean, one of the ones that violated this rule, the Bermuda petrel, or cahow, was recently rediscovered, as it were. No one has seen these birds in Bermuda for a long time. They were considered extinct. But in 1951, American zoologists on the rocks of a small group of islands of Castle Harbor found alive and well Cahow along with chicks and nests. Five adult birds were caught in loops. Putting rings on their paws, the "extinct" birds were released into the wild. After a good search, we found 17 more kahou nests in the rocks.
Now about a hundred birds nest in Bermuda under the protection of the law, however, rats brought to the islands threaten the prosperity of this small feathered colony. Cahow chicks are bred in winter, and in the summer, in the heat, they fly to the open sea. Apparently, like other representatives of their genus - in the Antarctic cold waters. They catch, mainly at night, small fish and squid, snatching them out of the water on the fly.
Giant petrels on islands around Antarctica terrorize penguins, stealing eggs and chicks. Their little brothers and even rabbits, if they are found there, live in fear of them.

Giant petrels are called "stinkers" by sailors for their unpleasant smell. They are slate-gray, they are as tall as albatrosses, not very large. In nests, they almost always have one white, later green from algae, a very large egg, three times larger than a chicken.

The chick that will emerge from it in two months is "evil and agile." Very aggressive, running away, disturbed by anyone, and does not think. Meets the enemy face to face, legs wide apart for better support in front of the mark of the “fire” attack that will immediately follow: a stinking stream thrown out of its beak with force.

It has been established that he can spit out about a quarter of a liter. Large petrels build nests on open places like albatrosses. Smaller ones nest in colonies under the protection of bushes, in grass, in rock crevices, on cliffs, often in burrows. In some places, the land on the islands is so pitted with these holes that it is impossible to take a step without hitting one of them with your foot.

During the day, adult inhabitants of holes hunt over the sea, at night they fly and feed the chicks. They feed for long weeks, but still, not waiting for their children to finally be able to fly, they migrate in the autumn to the seas to the north. Often from Australia, for example beyond the equator, to the shores of Japan and Kamchatka.
Grown up children later follow the same place and wander for several years, like young albatrosses, over the oceans, thousands of miles from their homeland. And it is surprising: years pass in these wanderings, but when the all-powerful instinct for procreation speaks in them, young birds do not fly anywhere, not to the nearest islands, but only to those where they were born. The path is often very long.

The petrel's ability to find the right path over unguided oceans is amazing. One was taken 5 thousand kilometers from England to America and released there: 12 days later he returned and found his nest on a tiny island off the coast of Wales.
Antarctic fulmars, there is also an arctic species or subspecies, nest in Antarctica and on nearby islands. Nests are built early: there is still snow all around. And in the southern autumn they fly away, following the cold currents, to the north, to the equator and beyond the equator. Northern fulmars, arctic ones, do not move so far from nesting sites.

In winter, small white-bellied, gull-like birds fly over the Black and Azov Seas - black-billed, or small, petrels. Their nests are to the west, in the Mediterranean and even on the other side of the ocean, in Bermuda. Many petrels are "heartless" parents, they feed their children once a day or less, they are abandoned early, still helpless.

On the 62-63rd day of life, the chick is already feathered, and by this time the parents stop feeding it. Having starved for five days, the chick crawls out of the hole, returns to it again, crawls out again, and only after ten days of hunger strike goes to the sea. The path is difficult for him: the young bird hobbles, helping itself with its wings and even its beak. It happens that she does not have time to get to the sea in one night and then hides for a day in a hole, crevice or under a stone, or even just sits with her eyes closed, without moving in one place. At this time, the chick becomes easy prey for predators, even crows. Having finally reached the sea, the young bird at first swims and dives more, and only then gradually begins to fly.
The Soviet ornithologist Professor L.A. Portenko met trumpet-nosed guests from the south even in the Arctic, in Chukotka and near Cape Serdtse-Skamen. All summer long flocks of thin-billed petrels hunted over the coasts of the northern seas. In autumn they followed our birds to the south. Ours found shelter in China, India, and the petrels continued on their way. They were not seduced by either the green jungle or the silvery beaches of the Pacific Islands: they were in a hurry to return to their homeland, to Tasmania, because spring was returning there.

Diving petrel

Slender-billed petrels breed on this island, and then fly north, cross the equator, and a month after the start they catch shrimp off the coast of Japan. But they do not linger here, they fly further along the Kuril Islands to Kamchatka, Chukotka, even to Wrangel Island. Returning from there to Kamchatka, they cross the entire Bering Sea and along the western coast of North America again descend to the south. From California they turn already into the open ocean and soon close their famous Pacific loop, landing at nests abandoned in southern autumn on the rocks of Tasmania. Each pair occupies its own old hole.

These small birds, 33 centimeters from head to tail, fly 9 thousand kilometers in the first month of their wanderings. The road is long - another four months of travel. There and back about, and in some flocks even more, 40 thousand kilometers.

The biologists Serventi, Richdale and Lack have made classic studies, and we now know the details of the life of the slender petrels better than many other birds. Having completed a thousand-kilometer tour around the Pacific Ocean, in September - October, millions of petrels return to the shores of Tasmania, South Australia and to the islands between them in Bass Strait.

During the day they hunt for crustaceans and anchovies. At night they fly to the shore, swarm in the dark near the holes. They clear, deepen the old ones, dig new ones. Then three weeks are empty at the holes, the birds rest from earthworks in hunting raids over the waves, far in the open seas. In November, there is again turmoil at the holes: with the south wind, petrels returned from the ocean. An egg in each hole is incubated in turn, first by males, then by females, changing about once every two weeks. The one who sits in the dungeon does not starve: the partner arrives at night to feed him. According to other sources, the incubating male does not eat anything for the first two weeks, no one feeds him.

In January, after almost two months of incubation, chicks appear. Parents, having plugged holes with grass in the morning, fly into the sea for crustaceans, for krill, which whales also feed on. They return to the chicks in the dark and, apparently, not every night.

So they ply between the shore and the sea for three months, then, forgetting about worries and chicks, they set off in April on their famous voyage. Hungry, young petrels crawl out of their burrows after two weeks, pushing out grass plugs. Roam over the seas. Many fly along the path of old birds, but they cannot be overtaken. True, one young petrel, ringed in Australia, a month later fell into the hands of people off the coast of Japan! Three-four-year-olds, united with flocks of adults, rush to the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Along America return to their homeland. They do not nest here for another two or three years, but are only present as spectators, waiting for the necessary maturity and experience.

Where slender-billed petrels nest, a large fishery is organized: annually up to 400 thousand chicks are killed, canned and even exported. Fat is squeezed out of them - from five chicks about a liter of clear oil.

However, this is the case almost everywhere, on many, in any case, islands where petrels nest. In the food resources of the local population, their share is large. In the Faroe Islands, the day of the mass beating of grown petrels, August 26, has become a national holiday - "Liridagur". In Japan, on the island of Mikura alone, one hundred thousand fat young petrels are killed a year.

Fluttering on their crescent wings above the very surface of the water, they look out for the tasty chickens that the sea gives them - tiny crustaceans, fish fry and pelagic caviar. Storm or calm, hurricane or complete calm - they don't care, these brave birds. They are not spoiled by life.
And in a storm, and in a storm, day and night, black-brown birds flutter above the water itself. As if they are running along it, dipping one or both paws and fluttering their wings. A storm-petrel will notice a shrimp, a small fish or a small squid, immediately, having dipped its paws, it slows down. Supporting feet on the water supports a light bird (20-50 grams!) Above the edge of the wave. The ability to stay close to the water saves the storm-petrels from death in a frantic dance of the elements. In a hurricane storm, between the foamy mountains, storm-petrels flutter their wings. Not on the crests of the waves, but in the valleys below them, in the depressions between the waves. The waters of the valley soon rise like a mound, and the storm-petrel, skillfully maneuvering in the violence of the storm, manages not to climb the salty mound swelling under it. Glides along the slope of the wave into a ravine, into a low in place of a recent mountain. There is a calm - a shelter from the wind, tormenting the crests of the waves.

If the wind suddenly changes, turns sharply 90 degrees and rushes in from the side between the waves, it will be bad for the storm storms. Tear off the water, spin, rush over the raging ocean. Sometimes the storm-petrels were brought by a hurricane even to the continents. So they roam in a storm always across the wind. Where the cyclone has turning points, the birds also change their course, maintaining the same angle to the direction of the wind.

"Storm swallows" are called storm-petrels. Many chirp like swallows, many have a similar flight. And some are as tall as a swallow, others are larger, like a thrush. Their Russian name is from the word okochuritsya, die. There is a belief: storm-petrels are the souls of sailors who died at sea. English sailors call them chicks of the Mother of God, for Swedish fishermen storm-petrels are sure harbingers of trouble.

Throughout the oceans, storm-petrels roam, sometimes in flocks flock to the light to the ships, rushing over the masts and decks. Some do not move especially far from their native shores. Others, the variegated storm petrel, fly over 12 thousand kilometers over a stormy and calm sea twice a year: from nesting sites - Antarctica, Tierra del Fuego, Kerguelen, South Georgia and other southern islands - to England, Greenland, Labrador and back.
Every bird, wherever it wanders, returns to an old hole on an island lost in the ocean. Two-year-old storm-petrels dig nesting holes, but they will breed in them only after a year.

They nest in colonies in rock crevices or in holes dug by themselves on islands, often close to the coast. Only one species, the Andean storm petrel, breeds on the mainland in the Chilean Salpeter Desert. Partners feed each other on nests. They return to them and fly away only in the dark. On land they move like birds with weak legs, on all fours. After 38-45 days of incubation, an undeveloped, helpless, in some species blind chick hatches. It is fed with oily gruel, which the parents drip into the open beak of the chick.

In the Far East, 3 species of storm petrels nest: northern and gray - on the Kuril and Commander Islands, both with a white uppertail, but the first is darker - gray-brown; small - on the coast near Vladivostok, dark brown, without white rump.

Some storm-petrels can dive to a depth of 20-30 centimeters and, as they say, come out dry from the water, they immediately fly. The pen does not get wet. Dive a little and petrels, not all, really. But the real divers among the tube-nosed are diving petrels. They even row their wings underwater. In the air they wave them often, trembling almost like hawks above the wave itself. Suddenly they dive into the water mountain. A moment, and the bird flies from reverse side waves. They look like auks: everything they have is short - beak, neck, wings, legs, tail - and all this, from beak to tail, fits in some 16-25 centimeters.

They nest in burrows on the islands of the southern hemisphere in a narrow band of latitudes from 35 to 55 degrees, but only in the Indian and Atlantic oceans, diving petrels are not found in the Pacific.

Man and many animals cannot drink sea water for a long time: the salts dissolved in it will seriously damage the kidneys. But trumpet-nosed birds drink it. Anatomists found above their eyes, in small recesses of the skull, salt-excreting glands, a kind of "tear buds". They remove excess salt from the body even faster than real kidneys. Possessing this very useful "distillation apparatus", protuberances (as well as gulls, cormorants, pelicans, sea turtles and crocodiles) drink sea water without harm.

Salt glands in all animals that have them are almost the same. It is a tangle of tiny tubes braided with blood vessels. The tubules take salt from the blood and distill it into the central channel of the gland. From there, the saline solution drips outward: in crocodiles and turtles through holes near the eyes, in birds usually through the nostrils. The pelican even has longitudinal grooves on its beak. Salty “tears” flow down to the tip of the beak through them, as through channels.

There were different explanations for the strange shape of the nostrils of tube-nosed birds. But it turned out that nostril tubes are similar to a double-barreled pistol not only in form, but also in essence: they shoot salty droplets that are secreted by the lacrimal gland. Hovering over the waves for hours, the petrel rarely sinks into the water. In flight, the oncoming air flow makes it very difficult for the release of salt-saturated liquid from the nostrils. Therefore, nature has taken care of a “water pistol” for the petrel: tears are sprayed out of the tubular nostrils with a force that overcomes wind resistance.

Petrels (Procellariidae) - a family that includes marine new-palatine birds that belong to the order of petrels. The petrel category is represented by numerous species, and these are mainly birds of medium size.

general characteristics

Along with other petrels, members of the Petrel family have a pair of tubular holes located in the upper part of the beak. Through such holes, sea salt and gastric juices are excreted.. The beak is hook-shaped and long, having a sharp end and edges. This feature of the beak allows birds to hold too slippery prey, including fish.

The sizes of representatives of petrels fluctuate quite strongly. The smallest species is represented by the small petrel, whose body length does not exceed a quarter of a meter with a wingspan of 50-60 cm, and a weight in the range of 165-170 g. A significant part of the species also has not too large body sizes.

An exception is represented by giant petrels, which resemble appearance small albatrosses. average value the body of adult individuals of the giant petrel does not exceed a meter, with a wingspan of up to two meters and a weight in the range of 4.9-5.0 kg.

It is interesting! Absolutely all adult representatives of petrels fly very well, but differ in different flight styles.

The plumage of all petrels is white, gray, brown or black, so all species of this family look rather inconspicuous and simple. As a rule, it is quite difficult for a non-specialist to independently distinguish between species similar to each other.

Among other things, the complexity of differentiation is due to the absence of signs of sexual dimorphism visible in the bird. The paws of the bird are poorly developed, therefore, in order to stand on land, the petrel has to use its wings and chest as an additional support.

Petrel classification

The petrel family (Procellariidae) is divided into two subfamilies and fourteen genera.. The subfamily Fulmarinae is represented by birds with a gliding gliding flight style. Food is obtained in the most superficial layers, and to receive it, the bird sits on the water. Representatives of this subfamily are not adapted or insufficiently adapted for diving:

• giant petrel (Macronestes);
• fulmars (Fulmarus);
• Antarctic petrel (Thalassoisa);
• Cape doves (Dartion);
• snow petrel (Pagodroma);
• blue petrel (Halobaena);
• whale birds (Rachyptila);
• Kerguelen typhoon (Lugensa);
• typhoon (Pterodroma);
• Pseudobulweria;
• Mascarene typhoon (Pseudobulweria aterrima);
• typhoon bulveria (Bulveria).

The subfamily Puffininae is represented by birds that have a gliding flight style.

During such a flight, frequent flapping of the wings and landing on the water alternate. Birds of this subfamily are able to dive quite well from the summer or from a sitting position:

• thick-billed petrel (Procellaria);
• Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica);
• variegated petrel (Calonestris);
• true petrel (Ruffinus).

It is interesting! Despite the great species diversity, only two species nest on the territory of our country - the fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) and the variegated petrel (Calonestris leucomelas).

The Petrel family is the richest in terms of the number of species and a very diverse family belonging to the order of the tube-nosed.

Range, habitats

The distribution area and habitats of petrels directly depend on the species characteristics of the bird.. Fulmars are birds of the northern waters, distributed circumpolarly. Nesting in the Atlantic Ocean is noted on the islands northeast of North America, Franz Josef Land of Greenland and Novaya Zemlya, up to the territory of the British Isles, and in the Pacific Ocean the bird nests from Chukotka to the Aleutian and Kuril Islands.

It is interesting! The Cape dove is very well known to sailors in the southern latitudes, which constantly follows ships and equips its nests on the coast of Antarctica or the surrounding islands.

The common petrel breeds on the islands of European and African coasts, and in the Pacific Ocean, nesting has been observed from the Hawaiian Islands to California. The slender-billed petrels breed in the island territories of Bass Strait, as well as around Tasmania and off the coast of South Australia.

The giant petrel is a common inhabitant of the seas in the southern hemisphere. Birds of this species most often nest in the territories of the South Shetland and Orkney, as well as the Malvinas Islands.

Petrel food

Petrels, along with storm petrels, feed on fairly small fish and all kinds of crustaceans that swim near the surface. As needed, such birds perform short dives. A significant part of large petrels consume simply huge amounts of squid. Albatrosses rarely dive and often land on the water, as well as fulmars and giant petrels that feed from the surface of the water.

At night, such birds very willingly feed on squid, which rise to the water surface in large numbers, and during the day, schooling fish, garbage from passing ships or all kinds of carrion become the basis of the food ration. Giant petrels are, perhaps, the only representatives of tubenose that are able to actively attack the nesting of the youngest penguins and eat young birds.

Reproduction and offspring

As a rule, adult petrels return to familiar breeding grounds, even if they are located very far away. There is too much competition in nesting areas in large and too crowded bird colonies located on small islands.

On the coastal zone, between all the nesting representatives of petrels, there are quite complex ceremonies, and the birds themselves not only fight, but also scream and cackle loudly. This behavior is typical for birds trying to defend their territory.

The typical features of bird nests have some notable differences in different types petrel. For example, albatrosses prefer to clear the surface and then build a mound of soil and vegetation. Petrels nest directly on ledges, as well as at the soil level, but a significant part of them, along with storm petrels, are able to dig special holes in soft ground or use natural cracks of sufficient size.

It is interesting! Before the chick leaves its native nest, the parent pair flies off to molt to the sea, where during the hungry period, molting birds noticeably lose their weight.

Males often remain guarding the nest for several days, while females feed at sea or go to recuperative feeding. The paired birds do not feed each other, but alternately incubate the egg for 40-80 days. The chicks that were born in the first days feed on delicate and fatty foods in the form of semi-digested marine organisms burped by adult birds.

Petrel chicks grow quite quickly, therefore, having matured a little, they are able to remain unattended by their parents for several days. Cubs of small species begin to fly about a month and a half after birth, and more large species make their first flight in about 118-120 days.

Soaring almost above the water itself. Lightness and elegance are seen in this soaring.

Sometimes a bird with its long wings touches the waves of the sea. From the outside, it all looks romantic and beautiful. This wonderful sea bird is called petrel bird.

Translated from of English language the name of this one sounds like "petrel", which is reminiscent of the sound of the name Peter. It was this saint who, according to legend, was able to walk on water.

The petrel is able to do just like St. Peter. He moves through the water without any problems, which makes him a romantic and mysterious bird. How do they manage to stay on the water without problems? On the photo of petrel bird the membranes are clearly visible, they help this bird to walk smoothly on the water.

Petrel Features and Habitat

Petrel - purely sea ​​bird. He spends all his time on the territory of the water. Only during the period of laying eggs can he approach the land.

People who love to travel by sea notice how this one circles right above the ship, then sits on the waves. A wonderful spectacle. During a storm at sea, the petrel cannot land on the water, it has to fly until the storm subsides.

There are about 80 species in birds of the petrel family. The smallest representatives of this species weigh about 20 grams, the weight of the largest can reach up to 10 kg. Amazing variety! But according to biologists, still the most interesting and unusual are two types of petrels - giant and thin-billed.

If the petrel sat on the water, the weather will be good. And if a bird circles over the waves, there will be a storm.

Sea bird petrel giant has an impressive size. The average length of this bird reaches up to 1 meter. It weighs from 8 to 10 kg. Its wingspan is simply huge, reaching about 2.8 m.

For comparison, the albatross has a wingspan of 3 m. Thanks to such huge wings, the petrel can easily travel around the world.

Medium petrel bird has dimensions similar to . Plumage color is different for each subspecies. Lots of black petrels. And only in the area of ​​\u200b\u200btheir tail you can see white marks.

All representatives of this species have a short beak and long, stilt-like limbs. Brown-black petrels can be found. White with gray color is also relevant for them.

All latitudes, from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere, are inhabited by this wonderful bird. Petrels can be found on many seas and oceans.

Thanks to the arrangement of their wings, they can make huge flights from the cold subarctic spaces to the warm waters of the seas that wash South America.

There are many petrels in the southern regions of the Pacific Ocean. Even the cold climatic zone of the Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea is not afraid of them.

The nature and lifestyle of the petrel bird

Why is the petrel bird so called? Everything is simply banal. They, as well as in advance, can feel bad weather conditions are expected or good. If the petrel sat on the water, then the weather will be fine. Conversely, if he constantly circles above the waves, then soon there will be a storm.

Pictured is a slender-billed petrel

The petrel is a terrible thief. He cunningly and brazenly can steal an egg from him. In addition, they pose a great danger to little penguins, especially when they are very hungry. Penguins are well aware of this, so they are always on the alert.

The chicks of the petrels themselves are arrogant and aggressive. It is better not to get close to such bullies. The fact is that petrels produce a special oily, disgusting-smelling liquid in the stomach, which the bird spits out at someone who may possibly threaten it.

It is not easy to wash off this liquid. At one time, they are a small chick can spit out a quarter liter. How much of it is in the stock of adults is scary to even guess. But there are also non-aggressive petrels. For example, the thin-billed petrel. They do not build nests. They live in burrows on steep banks.

Pictured is a snow petrel bird

Like many other representatives of tube-nosed birds, the petrel's nostrils open into horny tubes. They say that with the help of these nostrils, excess salt comes out of the body of birds.

Also, thanks to such nostrils, petrels are protected from water ingress. Thanks to the limbs, which have membranes and are located behind, they can quickly move through the water.

On the surface of the land, they move awkwardly with the help of a beak and curved wings. All petrel bird descriptions talk about his strength, power and beauty.

Petrels make pairs. Although most of the time they are kept alone. In the spring, when it is necessary to fly to the nesting place, they find their mate.

Pictured is a petrel chick

petrel food

Petrel's favorite delicacy is small fish. They love herring, sprats and sardines. Also with pleasure, these birds eat cuttlefish and crustaceans.

It is interesting to observe how the petrel looks down on its prey, then abruptly dives into the water and emerges with it. Its beak is designed to filter water and leave everything that is edible.

Most often, such hunting occurs at night. It is at this time of day that the possible victims of the petrel float to the top of the water. In order to feed themselves, the petrel spends a lot of time, effort and energy. He sometimes needs to overcome hundreds of kilometers, so as not to remain hungry.

In the photo, the bird is a small petrel

Reproduction and life expectancy of the petrel

The mating season for petrels begins from the moment they arrive at their permanent place of residence. As a rule, they return to their last year's nest. Accordingly, they form the same pair.

Thus, they remain faithful to each other for all the remaining years. In warm regions, petrels remain in pairs, without flying anywhere. Those birds that fly to the place of their nests behave noisily, and sometimes even fight among themselves.

The nests of each species of petrel are different. These birds lay only one egg in the nest and occasionally take turns incubating it. The male does not hesitate to replace his female when she decides to fly in search of food.

Pictured is a petrel in the nest

The incubation period of an egg averages 52 days. For about a week, a newborn chick is completely defenseless and cannot do without parental care. Then it rapidly and rapidly develops and eventually leaves the nest. Petrels live for about 30 years.