Photo by njlarsen
Location: Dominica
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Genus: Pterodroma
Description
As typical Tubenoses, these birds have tubes where nostrils normally are, as well as webbed feet. The bill shape is characteristic: compared to for example a Puffinus, this bill is equally wide at the nostrils but only 60% of the length. Most, if not all, of the species have a highly characteristic flight mode with swing-wing (not flapping) action, and frequent 'looping the loop', readily distinguishing them from shearwaters and fulmars. They are highly oceanic species, often travelling vast distances (several thousand kilometres) over open oceans even just to gather food for chicks in the nest.
Taxonomy
Pterodroma is a genus in the family Procellariidae.
Pseudobulweria vs. Pterodroma
Clements (2010) and Sibley & Monroe (1996) place Mascarene Petrel, Tahiti Petrel, Beck's Petrel and Fiji Petrel in Pterodroma. However, Howard & Moore, 2003, Brooke 2004, Christidis & Boles 2008, and Gill & Donsker 2010 recognise the genus Pseudobulweria.
Pages in category ‘Pterodroma’
The following 38 pages are in this category, out of 38 total.
