Fairy prion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fairy prion |
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Pachyptila
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| Species: |
turtur
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The fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur) is a small seabird. It has black feathers on its back and white feathers underneath. You can often spot an "M" shaped mark on its wings. This bird is part of a group called prions.
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What is a Fairy Prion?
The fairy prion belongs to a group of birds called Pachyptila. These birds, along with the blue petrel, are known as prions. Prions are small seabirds. They mostly eat tiny ocean creatures called zooplankton.
Fairy prions are also part of a larger bird group called Procellariiformes. This group includes albatrosses and petrels. Birds in this group have some special features. For example, they have unique nasal passages. These passages connect to the top part of their bill. Their bills are also special, made of 7 to 9 hard plates.
These birds can make a special stomach oil. This oil is stored in their stomach. They use it to protect themselves from predators. It also provides a lot of energy for their chicks. Adults use it for long flights too. Finally, they have a salt gland above their nose. This gland helps them remove extra salt from their bodies. They drink a lot of ocean water, so this gland is very important. It lets out a salty liquid from their nose.
What Does "Pachyptila" Mean?
The name Pachyptila comes from ancient Greek words. Pakhus means thick or stout. Ptilon means a feather. So, Pachyptila means "thick feather."
The word prion also comes from Greek. It comes from priōn, which means a saw. This name refers to the saw-like edges on the bird's bill.
How to Spot a Fairy Prion
The fairy prion is the smallest type of prion. It grows to be about 23 to 28 centimeters (9 to 11 inches) long. Its feathers are blue-grey on its back. Its underside is white.
You can see a dark "M" shape on its upper parts. This mark goes all the way to its wingtips. Its tail is shaped like a wedge and has a dark tip. Fairy prions have a blue bill and blue feet.
Fairy Prion Behaviour
What Do Fairy Prions Eat?
Fairy prions mainly eat tiny sea creatures. These include small crustaceans and other very small animals found in the ocean. They usually feed at night. They pick their food right from the water's surface.
How Do Fairy Prions Breed?
Fairy prions live and breed in large groups called colonies. They prefer to nest on small islands. Their nests are often hidden by plants in the soil. They dig their nests using their bill or feet. Sometimes, they use a hollow spot in a rock crevice. When they return to their nest at night, they make soft cooing sounds. They listen for their mate's response.
Where Do Fairy Prions Live?
Fairy prions can be found in oceans and along coastlines. They live throughout the Southern Hemisphere.
Protecting Fairy Prions
The fairy prion is a very common bird. It lives across a very large area. Scientists estimate there are about 5,000,000 fairy prions. Because of this, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists them as "least concern." This means they are not currently at risk of disappearing. Their habitat covers about 24,600,000 square kilometers (9,500,000 square miles).
See also
In Spanish: Pato-petrel piquicorto para niños
