Pseudobulweria aterrima
The Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima) is an exceptionally rare and enigmatic seabird, a true jewel of the western Indian Ocean. This medium-sized petrel measures approximately 30-36 cm in length with a wingspan of 75-80 cm and weighs around 180-250 grams. Its plumage is uniformly sooty black or dark brownish-grey, often appearing all black at a distance, with slightly paler underwings that are only noticeable in specific light conditions, serving as its primary field mark. Belonging ...
This highly pelagic seabird spends most of its life over the open ocean in tropical and subtropical waters, returning to land exclusively to breed in inaccessible cliffs, ravines, and high-altitude forest slopes on volcanic islands.
The diet of the Mascarene Petrel consists primarily of small squid, fish, and crustaceans, which it captures by surface-seizing or shallow plunge-diving in the open ocean.
Mascarene Petrels are strictly nocturnal at their breeding colonies, primarily to avoid predation by both native (e.g., Réunion Harrier) and introduced species. During the day, they remain hidden in deep burrows or crevices. At sea, they are pelagic foragers, often seen in solitary flight or in s...
The Mascarene Petrel's breeding range is extremely restricted, known definitively only from Réunion Island in the Mascarene Archipelago of the western Indian Ocean. Breeding colonies are confined to highly inaccessible, often high-altitude (above 2000m) cliffs, ravines, and forested slopes. While...
Critically Endangered
- The Mascarene Petrel was thought to be extinct for many years until its rediscovery in 1995 on Réunion Island. - Fledglings are highly susceptible to disorientation by artificial lights, often crashing into buildings or being stranded inland. - Its nocturnal breeding habits and remote nesting s...