Alternative name: Cape Verde Petrel
- Pterodroma feae
Identification
33–36 cm
- Grey back and wings
- Dark "W" marking across the wings
- Blackish undersides of wings
- White belly.
Confusion Species
In flight is reminiscent of Great Shearwater or maybe a small Cory's Shearwater, but their underwings are not dark.
Most similar to Zino's Petrel which is smaller and has a less heavy bill.
Distribution
Breeds in the Cape Verde Islands, Desertas islands and Madeira Islands (Bugio Island); ranges eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Taxonomy
Closely related to Zino's (Madeira) Petrel.
Previously considered a subspecies of the Soft-plumaged Petrel, P. mollis.
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognized:
- P. f. feae breeds on Cape Verde Islands and found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean
- P. f. deserta breeds on Bugio in the Desertas Islands, found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean - sometimes accepted as full species, Desertas Petrel
Habitat
Open sea.
Behaviour
Pelagic except when breeding.
Breeding
Colonial nester, using either abandoned rabbit burrows, ones that it has excavates itself or in holes in rocks. A single white egg is laid. The nest is visited at night.
Diet
The diet includes planktonic food items from the ocean surface.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Wikipedia
- Madeira Birds
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Fea's Petrel. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Fea%27s_Petrel
