From Opus

Hydrobates pelagicus

Photo by creavey

Identification

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

Habitat

Breeds colonially in burrows and rock crevices mainly on islands, sometimes on undisturbed mainland coasts. Nocturnal when visiting nest. Pelagic when not breeding and rarely seen from shore, only seen on land after being storm-driven.

Behaviour

Bird Song

External Links