From Opus

Revision as of 16:13, 31 March 2009

Photo by boiler
Photographed: Sapphire Isles of Scilly Pelagic

Hydrobates pelagicus

Identification

15-16cm.

• Dark plumage
• White rump
• Dark iris
• Dark bill
• Dark legs and feet

Distribution

As a breeding bird this species is confined to the north-east Atlantic and Mediterranean with the bulk of the population in colonies on the west coasts of Britain and Ireland. There are smaller colonies to the north in southern Iceland; the Faroes and Lofoten Islands off Norway. Also breeds in the Channel Islands and off north-west and western France. In the Mediterranean there are colonies on the Balearics, and off southern Spain, Corsica and Sardinia, Sicily and Malta and there is a single colony in the Aegean. Breeding formerly occurred off Tunisia and has been reported from Canary Islands and Desertas but present status there is little-known. May also breed in Morocco.

Taxonomy

There are 2 subspecies.

Habitat

Breeds mainly on islands, sometimes on undisturbed mainland coasts.

Pelagic when not breeding and rarely seen from shore, only seen on land after being storm-driven.

Behaviour

Breeding

Breeds colonially in burrows and rock crevices. 1 white egg is laid. Nocturnal when visiting nest.

The diet includes plankton taken from the sea's surface.

Vocalisation

References

Wikipedia

External Links