Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Pterodroma
Species: feae
Syn: Pterodroma deserta

Description
Fea’s Petrel has dark grey plumage on the upper parts of its body while the under side of its body is white; both the upper and under parts of its wings are dark grey. On its head the bird has a white area between its bill (black and robust) and its eyes. The other areas of its head are dark, with the top of the head being dark grey.
Commonly flies at high speed in very high (10/40 metres) “arches” above the sea, rarely beating its wings.

Distribution
This species is endemic to Macaronesia and nests in Madeira archipelago (on Bugio – one of the Desertas islands) and on the Cape Verde islands of São Nicolau, Santiago, Fogo and Santo Antão.

Habitat
On the high flats of Bugio this seabird normally nests in unused rabbit burrows or ones that it excavates itself. It also nests in holes in rocks or in zones with loose stones, the latter habitat being more common in Cape Verde.

Breeding
Fea’s Petrel lays a single egg in summer (July/August) and the young bird leaves the nest in December. In Cape Verde this species appears to lay its eggs in December/January.

Curiosities
There are some reasons for thinking that the Cape Verde population of Fea’s Petrel may be a separate species but the data supporting this line of thought are inconclusive.

Madeiran name: Freira do Bugio
Madeira Archipelago migrant breeder
Social: Small flocks
Length: 34 - 35 cm
Status: Threathened
Seasonality in Madeira: From May to September though chicks only leave the nest by December

Recommend Tours to watch this species:
Desertas Boat Trip