- Hydrobates pelagicus
Identification
15-16cm.
- Dark plumage
- White rump
- Dark iris
- Dark bill
- Dark legs and feet
Distribution
As a breeding bird this species is confined to the north-east Atlantic and Mediterranean with the bulk of the population in colonies on the west coasts of Britain and Ireland. There are smaller colonies to the north in southern Iceland; the Faroes and Lofoten Islands off Norway. Also breeds in the Channel Islands and off north-west and western France. In the Mediterranean there are colonies on the Balearics, and off southern Spain, Corsica and Sardinia, Sicily and Malta and there is a single colony in the Aegean. Breeding formerly occurred off Tunisia and has been reported from Canary Islands and Desertas but present status there is little-known. May also breed in Morocco.
Taxonomy
There are 2 subspecies.
Habitat
Breeds mainly on islands, sometimes on undisturbed mainland coasts.
Pelagic when not breeding and rarely seen from shore, only seen on land after being storm-driven.
Behaviour
Breeding
Breeds colonially in burrows and rock crevices. 1 white egg is laid. Nocturnal when visiting nest.
The diet includes plankton taken from the sea's surface.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Hydrobates pelagicus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
Wikipedia
