The white-headed petrel (Pterodroma lessonii), also known as the white-headed fulmar, is a species of seabird in the petrel family, Procellariidae. It is about 400 mm (16 in) in length.[2]
| White-headed petrel | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Procellariidae |
| Genus: | Pterodroma |
| Species: | P. lessonii
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| Binomial name | |
| Pterodroma lessonii (Garnot, 1826)
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White-headed petrels breed alone or in colonies in burrows dug among tussocks and herbfields on the subantarctic Antipodes and Auckland Islands.[3]
Diet
editThey appear to feed pelagically on cephalopods and crustaceans.[1]
Description
editThe white-headed petrel distinct with a pale white head and prominent dark eye patch. It has long narrow wings and long pointed tail. The upper surface is pale grey which is contrasting with darker grey on the upper wings and the rump. The underside is mostly white. The bill is stout black with a large sharp hook. Green glands are prominent. The legs are pinkish to whitish with black patches on the toes.[4]
Voice
editThe calls are mainly higher-pitched shrill whistles ti-ti-ti or wik-wik-wik and lower-pitched moans ooo-er and or-wik sounds.
References
edit- ^ a b BirdLife International (2018). "Pterodroma lessonii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22698055A132622621. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22698055A132622621.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "White-headed Petrel Pterodroma lessonii". BirdLife International.
- ^ Colin Miskelly; Dafna Gilad; Graeme Arthur Taylor; Alan Tennyson; Susan M. Waugh (2019). "A review of the distribution and size of gadfly petrel (Pterodroma spp.) colonies throughout New Zealand". Tuhinga: Records of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. 30. Te Papa: 99–177. ISSN 1173-4337. Wikidata Q106839633.
- ^ "White-headed petrel". New Zealand Birds Online.
- Marchant and Higgins. (1990). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol.1. Oxford University Press: Melbourne.
External links
edit
Media related to Pterodroma lessonii at Wikimedia Commons- BirdLife Species Factsheet
