Trindade Petrel
Pterodroma arminjoniana
A medium-sized gadfly petrel with long, pointed wings, long tail, and elastic, powerful flight. Bill is short and thick. Upperparts all dark. Has two color morphs—dark and pale. In pale morph, head and breast dark, contrasting with white belly, creating a hooded appearance. Undertail coverts dark. Dark morph is all dark on belly. In both morphs underwing has pale mid-wing panel across the entire wing.
Identification
The Trindade petrel (Pterodroma arminjoniana), also known as the Round island petrel, is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. The bird is 35–39 cm (14–15 in) in size, with an 88–102 cm (35–40 in) wingspan. The petrel has various color morphs: dark and light, as well as intermediates between the two. Previously, two separate populations were considered conspecific, one occurring in the south Pacific, sometimes seen in Hawaii; the other occurring in the south Atlantic, nesting off Brazil, with regular sightings in the Gulf Stream off the southeastern United States. The little-known Pacific birds were then split and determined distinct as the Herald petrel, Pterodroma heraldica. It uses oceanic islands and atolls, nesting on cliff ledges, ridges or rocky slopes. On some islands, nesting birds are threatened by feral cats and rats. Due to ongoing habitat loss and small breeding range, this species is evaluated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The specific name is after Vittorio Arminjon, captain of the ship during the voyage in which the specimen was collected.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pterodroma; Family: Procellariidae; Order: Procellariiformes.
- Scientific name
- Pterodroma arminjoniana
- Authority
- (Giglioli & Salvadori, 1869)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Pterodroma
Range and habitat
Breeding range: AO, IO : Trindade and Martim Vaz Is. (e of c Brazil, tropical sw Atlantic Ocean) and Round I. (ne of Mauritius, c Mascarenes, sw Indian Ocean). Non-breeding range: to e Malagasy waters; e edge of Caribbean islands and temperate w Atlantic Gulf Stream n to Virginia; s to waters of s Brazil.
- Breeding range
- AO, IO : Trindade and Martim Vaz Is. (e of c Brazil, tropical sw Atlantic Ocean) and Round I. (ne of Mauritius, c Mascarenes, sw Indian Ocean)
- Non-breeding range
- to e Malagasy waters; e edge of Caribbean islands and temperate w Atlantic Gulf Stream n to Virginia; s to waters of s Brazil
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Medium-sized hummingbird of semi-open areas. Note entirely green plumage (including tail) and plain face with white spot behind eye. May be found in coastal savannas, savanna enclaves at lower elevations in the tepui region, and patches of dry scrub on rock formations in rainforest. Perches on low shrubs, often near temporary pools, preening and chasing other hummingbirds. Similar to Glittering-throated Emerald but lacks any white below and shows less contrast between face and throat. Frequently produced song is an excited, accelerating series of notes.
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