Black-capped Petrel
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| iBlack-capped Petrel | ||||||||||||||
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| Pterodroma hasitata (Kuhl, 1820) |
The Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) is a small seabird in the gadfly petrel genus, Pterodroma. It is also known as the Diablotin. The extinct Jamaica Petrel (P. caribbaea) was a related dark form, often considered a subspecies of this bird.
The Black-capped Petrel breeds on cliffs in the mountains of Haiti. It was formerly much more widespread in the West Indies, and is an uncommon but regular visitor to the southeastern USA, and an extremely rare wanderer to western Europe.
The Black-capped Petrel was locally called "Diablotin" -- i.e. "little devils" -- on Dominica. A mountain peak where it formerly bred is still named "Morne diablotin".
This seabird is nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by gulls. Like most petrels, its walking ability is limited to a short shuffle to the burrow.
This long-winged petrel has a grey-brown back and wings, with a white nape and rump. Underparts are mainly white apart from a black eye patch and some dark underwing makings. It picks planktonic food items from the ocean surface.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Pterodroma hasitata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is endangered, and the criteria used
