Desertas petrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desertas petrel |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterodroma
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| Species: |
deserta
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| Synonyms | |
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The Desertas petrel (Pterodroma deserta) is a small seabird that lives in the ocean. It belongs to a group of birds called "gadfly petrels." These birds are found in warm and mild parts of the world's oceans. The Desertas petrel makes its home and lays its eggs on Bugio Island. This island is part of the Desertas Islands group, which is located near Madeira.
Scientists sometimes find it tricky to tell different types of gadfly petrels apart. This is because many of them look very similar! For a while, some scientists thought the Desertas petrel was a subspecies of another bird called the Fea's petrel. But now, many experts believe it's its own unique species. The bird gets its name from the Desertas Islands, where it breeds. You say "Dez-ERT-ass" when you say the name of the islands.
What Does the Desertas Petrel Look Like?
It can be very hard to tell the Desertas petrel apart from two other similar birds: the Fea's petrel and the Madeira petrel. This is because scientists once thought all three were just different types of the same bird!
Scientists have studied these birds closely to find out how they are different. Here are some of the things they found:
- Overall Size: The Desertas petrel and the Fea's petrel are generally bigger than the Madeira petrel.
- Wing Length: Desertas petrels have wings around 264 mm long. Fea's petrels are about 262 mm, and Madeira petrels are smaller at 248 mm.
- Leg Length (Tarsus): Desertas petrels have legs about 35.2 mm long. Fea's petrels are 34.7 mm, and Madeira petrels are 32.7 mm.
- Beak Size:
- Beak Length: The Desertas petrel's beak is about 28.6 mm long, similar to the Fea's petrel (29.0 mm). The Madeira petrel has a shorter beak at 26.3 mm.
- Beak Depth (How Tall the Beak Is): This is where the Desertas petrel is quite different! Its beak is the deepest, at about 12.9 mm. The Madeira petrel has the shallowest beak (10.5 mm), and the Fea's petrel is in the middle (11.9 mm).
Scientists also look at ratios, which are like comparing how one part of the bird relates to another.
- The ratio of beak length to wing length is quite similar for all three birds.
- The ratio of beak length to beak depth is lowest for the Desertas petrel. This means its beak is shorter and deeper compared to its length. The Madeira petrel has the highest ratio, meaning its beak is longer and shallower. The Fea's petrel is in between.
