- Pterodroma heraldica
Identification
35-39 cm in size, with a 88-102 cm wingspan.
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
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, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- SACC proposal to split into two species which also contains behavior notes
