Phoenix petrel
| Phoenix petrel | ||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Pterodroma alba | ||||||||||
| ( Gmelin , 1785) |
The Phoenix Petrel ( Pterodroma alba ) is a bird art from the family of the petrels . The species is only found in the tropical and subtropical Pacific, where it breeds on small islands. The IUCN classifies the Phoenix Petrel as endangered ( endangered ) and estimates the stock to 30,000 mature individuals.
features
The phoenix petrel reaches a body length of up to 35 centimeters and is one of the medium-sized petrels. The wingspan is 83 centimeters. Phoenix petrels weigh an average of 269 grams. There is no noticeable sexual dimorphism .
The top of the body of adult birds is sooty-brown and looks black when observed in the field. The head, neck, and front chest are also sooty-brown and contrast black with the white underbust, the white belly, and the white underbelly. There is a white spot of different sizes on the chin and throat, which is difficult to spot when observing in the field. The beak is small and relatively slender.
There is a possibility of confusion with several other hook shearwater divers . The greatest resemblance is to the Tahitian petrel . However, the phoenix petrel is slightly smaller, the neck is shorter, and the head appears larger in relation to its height. Light color morphs of the Trinidad petrel can also be confused with the phoenix petrel . With these, however, the white spot on the throat and chin is much more pronounced.
Distribution area and way of life
The phoenix petrel is an ocean bird that avoids proximity to land outside of the breeding season. Its distribution area is the tropical and subtropical Pacific. Breeding colonies of this species can be found on Phoenix , Tonga , Kiritimati , Tuamotu , Marquesas and Pitcairn Island . The island with the largest number of breeding birds is Kiritimati.
The nests are shallow hollows under trees, bushes or low vegetation. As a ground-breeder, the phoenix petrel is particularly exposed to stalking by mammals introduced to the breeding islands. Feral domestic cats in particular have significantly reduced the breeding population of this species on some islands. According to BirdLife International , successful breeding of this species is only possible on islands where there are no feral domestic cats. The recent introduction of the black rat on Kiritimati is considered to be the main reason why the IUCN classifies the species as critically endangered, as the black rat is expected to result in a significant decline in the population. Protective measures focus on the extermination of domestic cats on breeding islands, but this has so far failed on some islands. There are also attempts to establish breeding colonies of phoenix petrels on so far cat-free islands in the range.
supporting documents
literature
- PJ Higgins (Ed.): Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds , Volume 1, Ratites to Ducks, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1990, ISBN 0195530683
Web links
- BirdLife factsheet on the Phoenix Petrel
- Pterodroma alba inthe IUCN 2012 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.