| Hydrobatidae () |
| 22 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 50.0 g |
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others; marine |
| Indo-Pacific, Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic. Tropical to polar. |
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Culmen: 1.63 cm; tarsus: 2.5 cm; wing: 15.4 cm. |
| Total Length: 19 to 22 cm; Wingspan: 45 to 48 cm (Ref. 8812). Continental shelf; <200 km (Ref. 81748). Found over sea and along shores (Ref. 83946). Pattering and dipping displays (Ref. 81748). One of the largest global population of seabirds at >10 million individuals. Goes on long transequatorial migrations, from high northern or southern latitudes across to high opposite latitudes. Found over a wide variety of habitat. Obtain food at surface of sea; an offshore feeder. Copulation occurring ashore and ovum fertilization happens at sea; delayed fertilization possible because of sperm-storage glands; allows birds to feed at sea while egg forms and prior to the long period of fasting during egg incubation. Stomach oils an energy source to the incubating bird, a species with one of the highest daily rates of mass loss while incubating its eggs. Hatchling size = 6.3 g. Chicks exhibit nestling obesity. Chicks feed sporadically in burrows; conserves water; with urine osmolality of 735 mmol/kg. Effect of oil pollution is slowed weight gain and higher chick mortality. Predation pressure from Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) as a consequence of closure of eastern Canadian ground-fishery (1992-1999) which eliminated discard and offal food source for these predatory birds (Ref. 87784). |
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Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
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