General

Galapagos Petrel: Medium-sized petrel with dark slate-gray upperparts and white underparts. Sides of neck and underwing margins are dark. Bill is relatively short, black, and hooked. Tail is white and wedge-shaped. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Galapagos Petrel: Found only on the Galapagos and Hawaiian Islands. Has been seen off the California Coast. Nests in a variety of environments from rain forests to sub-alpine rocky cliffs and will breed successfully as long as they are protected from predators. Pelagic; comes to land only to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Galapagos Petrel: One white egg is laid in a burrow on a large rock outcrop, under a cinder cone, or under old lichen-covered lava at elevations above 7,200 ft. Eggs are incubated for 55 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Galapagos Petrel: Feeds on squid, crustaceans, and fish. Forages by seizing prey at water surface; also scavenges.

Vocalization

Galapagos Petrel: Breeding call is "oo ah oo." Also has a call that sounds like the yapping of a small dog.

Similar Species

Galapagos Petrel: Juan Fernandez Petrel has an indistinct or partial dark stripe on underwings and a definite "M" across upperparts.