Least Storm-petrel
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| Halocyptena microsoma (Coues, 1864) |
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Oceanodroma microsoma |
The Least Storm-petrel (Halocyptena microsoma) is a small seabird of the storm-petrel family Hydrobatidae. It is 13-15 cm in length, with a wingspan of 32 cm. It is the smallest storm-petrel in size.
It breeds on islands on islands off the Baja Peninsula and Gulf of California of Mexico in rock crevices or small burrows in soft earth and lays a single white egg. Like most petrels, its walking ability is limited to a short shuffle to the burrow. It is a colonial nester.
It spends the rest of the year at sea, reaching as far south as the tropical Pacific South America. It frequently can be seen well offshore the coast of southern California in late summer and autumn.
It feeds on mainly planktonic crustaceans, with a preference of larvae of spiny lobster. It feeds similarly to other Storm-petrels, picking food of the surface of the water while in flight.
The Least Storm-petrel does suffer losses on some of the breeding islands, particularly from feral cats and rats.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Halocyptena microsoma. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern ,and the criteria used
- "National Geographic" Field Guide to the Birds of North America ISBN 0-7922-6877-6
- Seabirds, an Identification Guide by Peter Harrison, (1983) ISBN 0-7470-1410-8
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol 1, Josep del Hoyo editor, ISBN 84-87334-10-5
- "National Audubon Society" The Sibley Guide to Birds, by David Allen Sibley, ISBN 0-679-45122-6
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