Monteiro's storm petrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monteiro's storm petrel |
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| Monteiro's storm petrel chick | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hydrobates
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| Species: |
monteiroi
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| Synonyms | |
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Oceanodroma monteiroi |
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Monteiro's storm petrel (Hydrobates monteiroi) is a small seabird. It belongs to the storm petrel family. For a long time, people thought it was the same as another bird, the band-rumped storm petrel. But it's actually a unique species! This bird only lives in the Azores islands.
Discovering a New Species
Scientists first thought there was a new species when they saw two groups of storm petrels. These groups were breeding in the Azores at different times of the year. One group bred in the cool season, and the other in the hot season.
Researchers then looked closely at these two groups. They found differences in how the birds looked. They also saw differences in their feathers and how they changed them.
Scientists also checked the birds' DNA. This showed that the two groups were truly separate. The group that bred in the hot season was named Hydrobates monteiroi. This is the Monteiro's storm petrel.
The bird is named after Dr. Luis Monteiro. He was a biologist who first noticed differences between these two bird groups. He heard differences in their calls too.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Monteiro's storm petrels are only known to breed on a few small islets. Most of them breed on the Baixo and Praia islets. These islets are off the coast of Graciosa island in the Azores.
Like all petrels, the female bird lays only one egg. Both the mother and father bird take turns keeping the egg warm. This is called incubation.
They lay their eggs between late April and early July. This is different from the band-rumped storm petrel. That bird lays its eggs on these islands between October and December.
The first chicks hatch in June. The last young birds leave the nest by October. Young birds will return to the breeding colony when they are about two years old.
What They Eat
Monteiro's storm petrels probably look for food in the local seas all year. They might stay close to their breeding islands. This is different from the band-rumped storm petrel. That bird flies far away to the West Atlantic after breeding.
Scientists don't know exactly what Monteiro's storm petrels eat. But studies of their feathers show their diet is different from the band-rumped storm petrel.
These birds usually feed on the surface of the ocean. But they can also dive underwater. They can go down about 85 centimeters (about 33 inches) to find food.
Conservation Status
Monteiro's storm petrels face some challenges. They don't have many young birds each year. This is partly because other burrowing petrels compete for nesting spots.
Sometimes, young birds and even adult birds are eaten by long-eared owls.
Because of its small population, this bird is listed as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN. In 1999, there were about 250 to 300 breeding pairs. By 2016, there were about 328 to 378 pairs. They also only breed in a small area.
