Common diving petrel

Common diving petrel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Pelecanoididae
Genus: Pelecanoides
Species: P. urinatrix
Binomial name
Pelecanoides urinatrix
(Gmelin, 1789)

The common diving petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix), also known as the smaller diving-petrel or simply the diving-petrel, is a diving petrel, one of four very similar auk-like small petrels of the southern oceans. It is native to South Africa and islands of the southern Indian Ocean, islands and islets off New Zealand and south-eastern Australian islands.

Taxonomy and systematics

The German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin described the common diving petrel in 1789.[1] Its specific name urinatrix is derived from the Latin urinator "diver". Alternate common names include: Falkland/Berard's diving petrel (berard); Kerguelen/Subantarctic diving petrel (exsul); Tristan diving petrel (remaining subspecies), Puffinure plongeur (in French), Lummensturmvogel (in German), and Potoyunco común (in Spanish).[2]

There are six subspecies, which vary in body measurements, particularly bill size:[2][3]

Description

The common diving petrel is a small, plump petrel, 200 to 250 mm (7.9–9.8 in) in length and weighing around 86 to 186 g (3.0–6.6 oz). The plumage is black above and dull white below and it has a large black bill.[4] The wings have thin white strips. The face and neck can be more brown than black. The legs are blue.[4] Unless seen very close, it is almost indistinguishable from the South Georgia diving petrel. The common petrel has brown inner web primary feathers, whereas the South Georgia petrel has light inner web feathering. Common petrels have smaller and narrower bills than the South Georgia petrel.[3][4] Another difference is that the South Georgia diving petrel has a posterior black line down the tarsi. There are also slight size differences.[5]

Distribution and habitat

The common diving petrel is found between latitudes 35 and 55 degrees south, mostly around islands.[4] While the population is decreasing, it is not believed to be rapid enough to be of concern.[6] While 1.5 m (4.9 ft) nests are usually built on vegetated slopes, they are occasionally built on flatland.[4]

Behaviour

Pelecanoides urinatrix

The common diving petrel feeds on the continental shelf during the breeding season, its movements during the non-breeding season are poorly known and whether it disperses more widely is not known. Like other members of their family they catch prey by wing-propelled diving, and are capable of diving to 60 m (200 ft). The diet of this species is dominated by crustaceans.[3] They are known to forage at night on vertically migrating plankton. Feeding is mostly done in the ocean near the shore, but sometimes in the deeper pelagic zone during non-breeding season, which is only 2 months of the year. The mating habits are not well documented, although pairs form monogamous relationships. Breeding colonies are large and there is about one nest per 1 square metre (11 sq ft).[4] The nest is a burrow around 50 cm long with a chamber at the bottom which may or may not be lined with dried grass. Females lay a single white egg, which measures 38 x 29 mm,[7] and is incubated for 53–55 days. The young are brooded for 10–15 days and fledgling occurs at 45–59 days. Both parents take care of the young, which are grey-grown when hatched. The life expectancy is 6.5 years.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2012). "Pelecanoides urinatrix". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Common Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix)". Internet Bird Collection. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Brooke, Michael (2004). Albatrosses And Petrels Across The World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 428–430. ISBN 0-19-850125-0.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dewey, Tanya. "Pelecanoides urinatrix". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "A Comparison Between Common and South Georgia Diving Petrels". Sea Birding. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  6. ↑ "Common Diving Petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix". BirdLife International. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  7. ↑ Beruldsen, Gordon (2003). Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs. Kenmore Hills, Qld: self. p. 174. ISBN 0-646-42798-9.
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