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St Lazaria Island
- Birds
| Common Name: |
Leach's Storm-petrel |
| Scientific Name: |
Oceanodroma leucorhoa |
| Size: |
8" (20 cm) |
Description:
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Like its cousin the Fork-Tailed Storm-petrel, the
Leach’s Storm-petrel tends to fly an irregular course, making
sudden and unexpected changes in direction. Unlike its cousin, though,
this bird is dark brownish-black all over, except for its distinctive
white rump. |
| Narrative: |
By far the most numerous nesting birds on St. Lazaria,
about 250,000 pairs of storm-petrels nest in burrows that they dig
in the loose, volcanic soil on the top of the island. About 70 percent
are Leach’s storm-petrels, distinguished by their dark color
and white rump. Most of the vegetated area of the island is riddled
with burrows constructed by these birds. They resemble small doves,
but storm-petrels are actually related to albatrosses. They eat
small invertebrates, larval fish, and bits of dead debris plucked
from the surface of the water. The birds are most visible when feeding
at sea, usually entering and leaving the nesting burrows only at
night. |
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