Fea's petrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fea's petrel |
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Pterodroma
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feae
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The Fea's petrel (Pterodroma feae) is a small seabird that belongs to a group called gadfly petrels. These birds are known for their super fast and weaving flight, almost like they're trying to dodge something! The name Pterodroma even comes from ancient Greek words meaning "wing" and "runner," which perfectly describes their flight.
For a long time, scientists thought the Fea's petrel was just a type of soft-plumaged petrel. But after more studies, they found out it's actually a completely different species. It's very closely related to Zino's petrel and Desertas petrel, which were also once thought to be the same as the soft-plumaged petrel. This bird is named after an Italian zoologist named Leonardo Fea.
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About the Fea's Petrel Name
The first time anyone recorded what seems to be a Fea's petrel was way back in October 1768. This happened off the coast of West Africa during Captain Cook's first big sea journey. Even though no one wrote a full description then, an artist named Sydney Parkinson drew the bird. Scientists later recognized it as the type of bird that breeds on the Cape Verde Islands.
Much later, in 1900, an Italian zoologist named Tommaso Salvadori officially described this bird as a new species. He gave it the scientific name Oestrelata feae, honoring the Italian ornithologist Leonardo Fea. Later on, its name was changed again to Pterodroma feae.
Gadfly petrels, like the Fea's petrel, live in the warmer parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Many of these birds are not well-known, and it can be hard to tell them apart because they look so similar.
Scientists used to think that the Fea's petrel, Zino's petrel, and Desertas petrel were all just different versions of the soft-plumaged petrel. But they discovered important differences! They looked at the birds' sizes, the sounds they make, how they raise their young, and even their DNA. This research showed that these northern birds are not closely related to the soft-plumaged petrel at all. In fact, the Bermuda petrel might be their closest relative.
Because of these findings, scientists decided in 2003 that Zino's petrel and Fea's petrel should be considered full species. More recently, some experts have even suggested that the Fea's petrels living on the Desertas Islands are different enough from those in the Cape Verde islands to be their own species too!
What Does the Fea's Petrel Look Like?
This petrel has long wings and is about 33 to 36 centimeters (13 to 14 inches) long. Its wingspan, which is how wide its wings stretch, is about 86 to 94 centimeters (34 to 37 inches). It has a grey back and wings, with a dark "W" shape across its wings. The underside of its wings is dark, and its belly is white.
Fea's petrels fly very fast and powerfully. They eat tiny plankton from the ocean surface. This bird looks very much like the Zino's petrel. However, the Fea's petrel is generally a bit larger and has a thicker black beak.
It can be very tricky to tell Fea's petrel apart from Zino's petrel and Desertas petrel. Here are some ways they are different:
- Size: Fea's petrel and Desertas petrel are similar in overall size, and both are bigger than Zino's petrel. For example, Fea's petrel has a wing length of about 262 mm, Desertas petrel 264 mm, and Zino's petrel 248 mm.
- Beak: The beak length is similar for Fea's and Desertas petrels, and both have longer beaks than Zino's petrel. The Desertas petrel has the deepest beak, while Zino's petrel has the shallowest. Fea's petrel's beak depth is in between.
Where Do Fea's Petrels Live?
Fea's petrels breed on four islands in the Cape Verde archipelago, which is in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. These islands are Fogo, Santo Antão, São Nicolau, and Santiago.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
This seabird is active only at night when it's at its breeding sites. This helps it avoid predators like gulls. Like most petrels, it's not very good at walking on land. It can only shuffle a short distance to its burrow.
Fea's petrels are an endangered species. They nest in groups called colonies, digging burrows in the ground. They breed during both spring and autumn. Each female lays just one white egg.
