Tristram's storm petrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tristram's storm petrel |
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| Photographed on Nihoa Island | |
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The Tristram's storm petrel (Oceanodroma tristrami) is a type of seabird. It belongs to the storm petrel family, Hydrobatidae. This bird is named after an English clergyman and collector, Henry Baker Tristram. It is also sometimes called the sooty storm petrel because of its dark color.
This storm petrel lives across the northern Pacific Ocean. You can mostly find it in warm, tropical waters.
Contents
About Tristram's Storm Petrel
What it Looks Like
Tristram's storm petrel is about 24 centimeters (9.4 inches) long. It has long, pointed wings. Its feathers are mostly dark all over. It has a slightly lighter area on its lower back. There is also a light grey stripe on its upper wing.
Where it Lives and Breeds
These birds live in groups, forming colonies. They build their nests in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. They also nest on several small islands south of Japan. These islands include the Bonin Islands and Izu Islands.
Tristram's storm petrels visit their colonies at night. They breed during the winter months. When they are not breeding, they live in the open ocean, far from land. This is called being pelagic.
What it Eats
While at sea, Tristram's storm petrels hunt for food. They mainly eat squid and small fish.
Protecting Tristram's Storm Petrel
The Tristram's storm petrel is currently considered "near threatened." This means it could become endangered in the future. All of its nesting places in Hawaii are protected areas. This helps keep the birds safe.
However, the number of these birds has gone down in the past. This happened on Torishima Island. It was due to introduced animals like rats. These rats harmed the birds or their eggs.
In the early 2000s, scientists studied Tristram's storm petrels. They looked at how much plastic the birds had eaten. This study took place at Tern Island in the French Frigate Shoals.
How it Got its Name
This bird is named after Reverend Henry Baker Tristram. He was a clergyman who also collected many natural history items.
See also
In Spanish: Paíño de Tristram para niños
