- Pterodroma heraldica
Identification
35-39 cm (13¾-15¼ in) with a 88-102 cm wingspan
Polymorphic, with pale, dark and intermediate morphs
Distribution
Breeds on Raine Island in the Coral Sea; Chesterfield Island (Reefs) near New Caledonia; Tau Island in Samoa; the Marquesas Islands; and Gambier, Easter, and Henderson (Pitcairn) Islands in the South Pacific.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Formerly considered conspecific with Trindade Petrel and Henderson Petrel under the name Herald Petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana.
Habitat
Pelagic, nesting on cliff ledges, ridges or rocky slopes on oceanic islands, atolls.
Behaviour
Diet
Very little is known, but they are likely to eat squid, fish and crustaceans.
Breeding
Nesting happens on surface as opposed to in burrows, and visits to the nest takes place in the afternoon into evening rather than at night only
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- SACC proposal to split into two species which also contains behavior notes
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Aug 2018)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Herald Petrel. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Herald_Petrel
