Wilson's Storm Petrel
Wilson's Storm Petrel ( Oceanites oceanicus )
The Wilson's Storm Petrel ( Oceanites oceanicus ) is a very small species of the family of the petrels. She is considered one of the most common seabirds whose stock is in the millions. She is in Europe a very rare Irrgast which is observed in the southwest and west of the coastal areas of Ireland and Britain since the 1970s, almost every year.
Description
The Wilson's Storm Petrel has grown a body length of 18 to 19 cm and a wingspan of 41 cm. On top of it is colored sooty black. Above the rump is a clear patch of white feathers. The tail is black and straight cut.
Note the feet, which are widely stretched out over the tail in flight. The webbed feet that are yellow. The flight consists of short gliding phases and loose wing beats on the Go. When foraging hops and flutters the Wilson's Storm Petrel paddling on the water surface along. One assumes that prey are attracted by this behavior.
Dissemination
Wilson petrels breed on the Antarctic mainland, among other things, the Falkland Islands, Kerguelen, Heard Island and Bouvet in crevices or on moss cushions. The diet consists mainly of krill, but also from other crustaceans and squid. This type can be about 10 years old.
Way of life
In the Antarctic colonies this species breeds in crevices or burrows in the soft earth. The nest consists of a white -shelled egg, which has at the wider end of reddish- brown spots. In the Falkland Islands the breeding season lasts from December to April. From May not Wilson petrels are more to watch over the waters around the Falkland Islands. Then migrate to more northerly oceans.