Phoenix petrel

The Phoenix petrel (Pterodroma alba) is a medium-sized tropical seabird, measuring up to 35 cm (14 in) long, with a wingspan of 83 cm (33 in). It has a dark brown upperparts plumage, white below and whitish throat. The sexes are similar.

Phoenix petrel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Pterodroma
Species:
P. alba
Binomial name
Pterodroma alba
(Gmelin, 1789)
Synonyms

Procellaria alba Gmelin, 1789[2]
Procellaria parvirostris Peale, 1848[2]
Rhantistes parvirostris Bp, 1856[3]
Æstrelata parvirostris Coues, 1866[3]
Œstrelata parvirostris Lister, 1891[4]

The Phoenix petrel is found throughout oceans and coastal areas in the central Pacific Ocean. Their colonies can be found on Phoenix, Tonga, Kiritimati, Tuamotu, Marquesas and Pitcairn Island. Females lay one white egg on the ground surface. The diet consists mainly of squid, fish and crustaceans.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, predation by invasive species and human exploitation, the Phoenix petrel is evaluated as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Pterodroma alba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Loomis, Leverett Mills (January 1920). "On Procellaria alba Gmelin" (PDF). The Auk. 38 (1): 88–91.
  3. Streets, Thomas H. (1877). "Contributions to the Natural History of the Hawaiian and Fanning Islands and Lower California". Bulletin of the United States National Museum, Issue 7. Washington, DC: The Smithsonian Institution. p. 30.
  4. Sharpe, Richard, ed. (1896). Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum: Gaviæ and Tubinares. London, UK: British Museum of Natural History. p. 405.
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