From Opus

Current revision

Photo by boiler
Photographed: Sapphire Isles of Scilly Pelagic

Hydrobates pelagicus

[edit] Identification

15-16cm.

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

[edit] 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. It is not known where they spend the winter season.

[edit] Taxonomy

There are 2 subspecies:

• pelagicus in the Atlantic
• militensis in the Mediterranean

[edit] 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.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] 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.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

Wikipedia

[edit] External Links