Salvin's Prion
Little ducks Petrel ( Pachyptila salvini )
The little ducks Petrel ( Pachyptila salvini ) is a species of the family of the petrels. Possible confusion exist primarily with other prions and among these especially with the very similar pigeons Petrel. There are two subspecies.
The IUCN classifies the little ducks Petrel as an uncritical ( least concern ). The world population is estimated at about 12 million mature individuals.
Appearance
The little ducks Petrel reaches a body length of 27-28 inches. The wing length is 17.6 to 21 inches and the wingspan 57 centimeters. The weight is 130 to 210 grams. The little ducks Petrel is only slightly smaller than the Big Duck Petrel.
The body top is pale blue-gray. A dark, flashy "M" runs over the two wings. The body underside is white, the sides of the chest grayish. About the eyes runs a conspicuous white stripe, which emphasizes the dark eyes glancing. The lower half of the face is whitish. The beak is very wide at the base. He has a gray and bluish color and is much smaller and narrower than the Grand ducks Petrel.
Dissemination
The species breeds on sub-Antarctic islands in the south and the southwest Indian Ocean. Breeding population is available on the Prince Edward Islands, Amsterdam Island, the St. Paul Island and the Crozet Islands. Outside the breeding season the animals live in the open sea in an area which extends south from South Africa to New Zealand.
Way of life
The little ducks Petrel eats mainly krill and other small crustaceans, but also squid and fish. The food is obtained by the birds with the beak plow through the water surface, by filtering with the specially adapted beak or by reading from the water surface.
The species breeds in huge colonies of up to 1 million individuals or more. Like all other prions also breeds the little ducks Petrel in self-dug Building. These have a length of 0.93 to 1.35 meters. The actual Nistmulde is designed with leaves and twigs. The breeding season begins in October, the species breeds only once a year. Most nests have only a white -shelled egg. The incubation period is 44 to 55 days the young birds fledge after 54 to 65 days. Both parents birds participate in the breeding and rearing of young birds.
Inside systematics
There are two subspecies:
- P. salvini salvini
- P. salvini macgillivrayi - This subspecies has a wider beak and wings slightly longer than the nominate form. You will occasionally granted species status.