Herald Petrel

Pterodroma heraldica

Order

PROCELLARIIFORMES

Family

Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)

Code 4

HEPE

Code 6

PTEARM

ITIS

Egg Color:

White



Number of Eggs:

1



Incubation Days:

49 - 54



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Location:

In burrow.



Nest Material:

No nest materials.



Migration:

Migratory



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General

Herald Petrel: Medium-sized petrel that has three color morphs: light, intermediate and dark. Dark morph bird is dark gray overall with dark forehead and cap and thin black bill; shows silver-gray to white base on underwing flight feathers. Light morph has white breast and belly and dark gray upperparts. Intermediate forms exist between light and dark morphs. Sexes are similar. Split into Herald Petrel and Trindade Petrel (not in North America) by the American Ornithologist Union. in 2015.

Range and Habitat

Herald Petrel: These birds prefer water below the Equator but were recorded as far north as North Carolina where it is a rare but regular visitor in late spring to late summer. Breeds on Raine Island and other small cays in the Coral Sea. Mostly pelagic, spends its life at sea coming to nesting grounds only to breed. Prefers warm islands with soils suitable for nesting burrows.

Breeding and Nesting

Herald Petrel: One white egg is laid in a burrow which is excavated or cleaned out by both sexes. For their breeding grounds Herald petrels choose warm islands and do not line burrows with any nest materials. Incubation ranges from 49 to 54 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Herald Petrel: This bird is mostly pelagic and spends the majority of its time at sea where it feeds on squid and crustaceans. When looking for food, it skims water, grabs prey with bill, and ingests while in flight.

Vocalization

Herald petrel: Generally quiet when flying over water, but during breeding times when they fly over the colonies on land, they make a rapidly repeated high-pitched "ki ki ki ki" call. It also makes several squeaky whistles and moaning notes and can produce cooing and chattering tern-like sounds.

Similar Species

Herald Petrel: Sooty Shearwater has broader, more stout body, high forehead, light underwings, shorter tail, and very different flight pattern.

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UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
CapX
The area on top of the head of the bird.
Flight feathersX
Located on the wing, and collectively called remiges (singular, remex). The long stiff feathers are subdivided into two major groups based on the location and are called primaries and secondaries.
PelagicX
The pelagic is a type of bird whose habitat is on the open ocean rather than in a coastal region or on inland bodies of water (lakes, rivers). An example of a pelagic bird is the blacklegged kittiwake.
Parts of a Standing bird X
Head Feathers and Markings X
Parts of a Flying bird X