Salvin's Prion
Pachyptila salvini
A pale powder-blue-and-white seabird with a faint grayish dark “M” across the upperwings. Note the dark blue “thumb mark” collar, the blue eye-stripe, the white eyebrow, the white throat, and the grayish cap. Almost identical to Antarctic Prion, but bulkier and more heavy-chested, with a slightly wider bill. Essentially identical to MacGillivray’s Prion, with which it shares the breeding island of Gough, in the South Atlantic; MacGillivray’s has a slightly broader bill, but identification likely to be impossible at sea in most cases. Present species also breeds on the Crozet and Prince Edward Islands, and ranges from off southern Africa to New Zealand.
Identification
Salvin's prion is a small 29 cm (11 in) petrel with grey and white plumage, and a blue bill. Like the broad-billed prion it has lamellae in its bill in order to filter seawater for food.
Taxonomy
Salvin's prion is a member of the genus Pachyptila and of the subgenus Salviprion Mathews, 1943. Along with the blue petrel, they make up the prions. They in turn are members of the family Procellariidae, and the order Procellariiformes. The prions are small and typically eat just zooplankton; however as a member of the Procellariiformes, they share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. Although the nostrils on the prion are on top of the upper bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. They produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. Finally, they also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.
- Scientific name
- Pachyptila salvini
- Authority
- (Mathews, 1912)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Pachyptila
Range and habitat
The breeding distribution of the Salvin's prion is restricted to Crozet Islands and Prince Edward Island. Salvin's prion breeds principally on Île aux Cochons in the Crozet Islands, where four million pairs are thought to breed. Other breeding colonies include Prince Edward Island, St Paul Island and Amsterdam Island. At sea they range from South Africa eastwards to New Zealand.
- Breeding range
- IO : Prince Edward and Crozet is. (sw Indian Ocean)
- Non-breeding range
- to s African and s Australasian waters
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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