Murphy's Petrel

Pterodroma ultimaOrder: PROCELLARIIFORMESFamily: Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)

Breeding Location:

Islands, sandy or rocky



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Colonial



Breeding Population:

Rare



Egg Color:

White



Number of Eggs:

1



Incubation Days:

50 - 54



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

No material added to nest.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Murphy's Petrel: Large petrel, overall gray or gray-brown body and pale throat. Underwings have pale bars. Legs and feet are pale, toes have black distal webbing. Bill is black. Feeds on squid and crustaceans. Swift flight, alternates several rapid wing beats with long glides. Does not follow ships.

Range and Habitat

Murphy's Petrel: Breeds in the Pitcairn Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Austral Islands, and the Gambier Islands. Seen annually far offshore, along the Pacific coast of Mexico, California, Oregon, and Washington. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Murphy's Petrel: One white egg is laid in a burrow excavated by both parents. Incubation ranges from 50 to 54 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Murphy's Petrel: Eats squid and crustaceans; forages in flight, snatching prey at or near the water surface.

Readily Eats

Vocalization

Murphy's Petrel: Emits acute cries on breeding grounds; silent at sea.

Similar Species

Murphy's Petrel: Herald Petrel Dark Morph lacks white at the base of the bill. Dark-rumped Petrel has white on face, throat, and breast.

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Family Petrel (Procellariidae)_blue
Species Pterodroma ultima
Length15 - 16 Inches
Wingspan38 Inches

Murphy's Petrel

Murphy's Petrel: Large petrel, overall gray or gray-brown body and pale throat. Underwings have pale bars. Legs and feet are pale, toes have black distal webbing. Bill is black. Feeds on squid and crustaceans. Swift flight, alternates several rapid wing beats with long glides. Does not follow ships.

● Song: Generally silent

● Foraging & Feeding: Murphy's Petrel: Eats squid and crustaceans; forages in flight, snatching prey at or near the water surface.

● Breeding & nesting: Murphy's Petrel: One white egg is laid in a burrow excavated by both parents. Incubation ranges from 50 to 54 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Murphy's Petrel: Herald Petrel Dark Morph lacks white at the base of the bill. Dark-rumped Petrel has white on face, throat, and breast.

Flight Pattern

Swift flight., Alternates several rapid stiff wing beats with long glides., Soaring arcs.
Murphy's Petrel Body Illustration_2
● Range & Habitat: Murphy's Petrel: Breeds in the Pitcairn Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Austral Islands, and the Gambier Islands. Seen annually far offshore, along the Pacific coast of Mexico, California, Oregon, and Washington. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationRare
MigrationMigratory
Weight12.7 Ounces