The Blue Petrel, Halobaena caerulea, is a small seabird that is found in the southern oceans ranging as far north as South Africa, Australia and portions of South America.
Description
The Blue Petrel’s plumage is white underneath and grey on its upper parts, with an “M” banding across its top, which is similar to the prions. It also has a white-tipped tail. Its bill is smaller than prions.
Feeding
They feed predominantly on krill, as well as other crustaceans, fish, and squid. They can dive up to at 6 m (20 ft).
Breeding
The Blue Petrel breed in have large colonies. Their nest is a burrow, and they lay one egg. Both parents incubate the egg for approximately 50 day and the chick fledges after 55 days.
They will nest on Antarctic islands, such as Marion Island, the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Macquarie Island, South Georgia, Prince Edward Island.
Skua often prey on their eggs and chicks.
