Pterodroma incerta
The Atlantic Petrel, Pterodroma incerta, is a medium-sized gadfly petrel of the family Procellariidae, a group renowned for their oceanic prowess. Measuring approximately 43 cm in length with a wingspan of 105-115 cm, it presents a striking appearance: dark sooty-brown to black upperparts, head, and breast, contrasting sharply with a clean white belly and undertail coverts. A key identification feature is the distinct white underwing, which often shows a dusky trailing edge, and the pale, alm...
This highly pelagic seabird exclusively inhabits open oceanic waters during its non-breeding phase and breeds on remote, uninhabited volcanic islands in the South Atlantic from sea level to higher elevations.
The diet primarily consists of cephalopods (squid), small fish, and crustaceans, which they catch by surface-seizing or shallow-diving in the open ocean.
Atlantic Petrels are highly pelagic, spending nearly their entire lives at sea, returning to their breeding islands only under the cover of night to avoid diurnal predators. Their foraging strategy involves surface-seizing and shallow-diving for prey, often associating with cetaceans or fishing v...
The Atlantic Petrel is an endemic breeder to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (including Tristan, Inaccessible, Nightingale, and Middle Islands) and Gough Island, both located in the remote South Atlantic Ocean. The vast majority of the breeding population, estimated at over 99%, is found on Goug...
Endangered
- The Atlantic Petrel is almost entirely nocturnal at its breeding colonies, flying in and out under the cover of darkness to avoid predatory gulls and skuas. - Like many petrels, they can eject foul-smelling stomach oil at intruders as a potent defense mechanism, capable of being accurately aime...