Pterodroma deserta
The Desertas Petrel (Pterodroma deserta) is a critically endangered medium-sized seabird, measuring 32-35 cm (12.5-13.7 in) in length with a wingspan of 86-94 cm (34-37 in). It exhibits dark sooty-gray upperparts that contrast sharply with its clean white underparts, a diagnostic dark 'M' pattern visible across its upperwings in flight, and dark patches underwing. Its sturdy, hooked dark bill and pinkish legs with dark feet are key identification features. Taxonomically, it belongs to the fam...
Highly pelagic, spending most of its life over the open ocean; it breeds on steep, rocky, vegetated slopes and cliffs of oceanic islands.
Primarily feeds on small fish, squid, and crustaceans, typically snatched from the ocean surface while in flight or swimming.
This highly pelagic species returns to its breeding colony exclusively at night to avoid aerial predators like gulls and raptors. Before dusk, individuals gather in rafts on the ocean surface near the colony, flying inland only after darkness falls. Desertas Petrels are monogamous, forming long-t...
The Desertas Petrel boasts an incredibly restricted breeding range, nesting exclusively on Bugio Island within the Desertas Islands of the Madeira Archipelago, Portugal. Outside the breeding season, these pelagic seabirds disperse widely across the North Atlantic Ocean. Their non-breeding movemen...
Critically Endangered
- Its scientific name, `deserta`, directly refers to the Desertas Islands, its sole breeding grounds. - For decades, it was considered a subspecies of the Fea's Petrel (`Pterodroma feae`) before genetic and morphological studies confirmed its distinct status. - This species breeds exclusively on ...