General

Bermuda Petrel: Medium-sized petrel with gray-brown upperparts shading to black on the rump; underparts are mostly white except for dusky sides of upper breast. Base of tail shows a white band. Face and forehead are white; large black-brown cap extends to eye level. Short heavy bill is black. In flight shows black gray upperwing and white underwings with black margins and tips. Sexes are similar; juvenile resembles adult.

Range and Habitat

Bermuda Petrel: Endemic to the island of Bermuda, Atlantic Ocean. It was widespread throughout the main island and its adjacent satellites but now is confined to four of the smallest islets in Castle Harbour, Bermuda . Nothing is known of its range at sea, it may wander to the offshore waters of the southern Atlantic states. May have been sighted off the coast of North Carolina.

Breeding and Nesting

Bermuda Petrel: One white egg is laid in ridges of cliffs or in rock crevices. Originally Bermuda Petrels burrowed their nests into the soft soils of Bermuda, but predation by introduced mammals exterminated them everywhere except on the smallest offshore islets where soil cover was too sparse to permit burrowing. Incubation ranges from 51 to 54 days and is carried out by both sexes.

Foraging and Feeding

Bermuda Petrel: These birds' food consists primarily of cephalopods (small squid) and lesser amounts of shrimp and probably small fish. They take food with their bill from the water surface. Bermuda Petrels do not follow boats.

Vocalization

Bermuda Petrel: Call is eerie "ca-how."

Similar Species

Bermuda Petrel: Very similar in appearance to the Black-capped Petrel which occurs regularly in water off of North Carolina where Bermuda Petrels have been seen several times. Black-capped has a wide white rump, white collar, heavier bill, proportionally shorter wings, and paler underwings.