Leach's storm petrel

Leach's Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) is a small seabird belonging to the family Hydrobatidae. This species is named after the British zoologist William Elford Leach. Leach's Storm Petrel is notable for its distinctive flight pattern, described as a buoyant, gliding motion, and its preference for open ocean habitats far from land. These birds are highly pelagic, rarely seen on land except during the breeding season.

Description

Leach's Storm Petrel is a medium-sized storm petrel, measuring 18-21 cm in length with a wingspan of 43-46 cm. It has a predominantly dark brown or black body, pale underwings with a distinctive white rump, and a forked tail, which distinguishes it from similar species. The bird's flight is erratic, characterized by glides and swift changes in direction.

Distribution and Habitat

The species has a wide range, found across the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and South Pacific Oceans. Leach's Storm Petrel breeds on remote islands, preferring rocky islets and cliffs where it can nest in burrows or crevices away from predators. Outside the breeding season, these birds are entirely pelagic, spending their life over open ocean waters.

Behavior

Feeding

Leach's Storm Petrel feeds primarily on planktonic crustaceans, small fish, and squid, often picking prey from the water's surface while in flight. They are also known to follow ships and whales to feed on the food stirred up by these large entities.

Breeding

Breeding occurs once a year; these birds are monogamous, with pairs returning to the same nesting sites annually. The female lays a single white egg in a burrow or crevice, and both parents share incubation duties. After hatching, the chick is fed by regurgitation until it is ready to fledge and make its way to the sea.

Conservation

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists Leach's Storm Petrel as Least Concern. However, the species faces threats from introduced predators on breeding islands, such as rats and cats, and from changes in sea temperature and pollution, which affect their food sources.

Research and Observation

Leach's Storm Petrel has been the subject of various research studies focusing on its navigation abilities, long-distance migrations, and the impact of environmental changes on its feeding and breeding patterns. These birds are also monitored as indicators of ocean health.

See Also

• Seabirds
• Pelagic birds
• Bird migration