Herald Petrel
Pterodroma heraldica
信使圆尾鹱
Introduction
A gadfly petrel species ranging across the south Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. Nests on oceanic islands and atolls on cliff ledges, ridges, or rocky slopes. Exhibits various color morphs including dark, light, and intermediate forms. Formerly considered conspecific with the Trindade petrel and Henderson petrel. Assessed as Least Concern globally but listed as Critically Endangered in Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Description
A medium-sized petrel measuring 35-39 cm in length with a wingspan of 88-102 cm. Exhibits polymorphic plumage with dark morph, light morph, and intermediate forms. The species was formerly considered conspecific with the Trindade petrel and Henderson petrel.
Identification
Distinguished from similar Pterodroma species by its polymorphic plumage. Formerly considered conspecific with the Trindade petrel and Henderson petrel, from which it is now differentiated as a separate species.
Distribution & Habitat
Range encompasses the south Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. Breeds on Round Island, 22 km north of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Raine Island, Queensland, is the only known breeding site in Australia. One individual banded on Raine Island in 1984 was later observed off Mauritius in 2007, demonstrating extensive dispersal capability. Has been recorded in Hawaii.
Behavior & Ecology
Nests on cliff ledges, ridges, or rocky slopes on oceanic islands and atolls. In August 2017, a Herald petrel chick was confirmed hatched on Raine Island, representing the first confirmed breeding in Australia in 30 years. An adult was observed caring for a single egg in June 2017.
Conservation
Assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Listed as Critically Endangered under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (effective July 2002) and Queensland Nature Conservation Act. A 2018 study ranked this species ninth among Australian birds most likely to go extinct. Threatened on some islands by feral cats and rats. The Raine Island population receives high protection with relatively few well-managed threats.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Pterodroma
- eBird Code
- herpet2
Distribution
breeds in the tropical Pacific Ocean, from Raine Island (off northeastern Australia; few), Tonga, and French Polynesia to Easter Island; pelagic range incompletely known, but occurs regularly to the central Pacific Ocean
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.