White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca (Webb, Berth. & Mouq. Tandon, 1841)

Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Oceanitidae
Genus:
Species: Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca (Webb, Berth. & Mouq. Tandon, 1841)

Description
This small marine bird is relatively easy to identify by its long black legs and its peculiar flight in which it appears to “bounce” from side to side over the sea surface. The underside of its body is white with the underside of the wings having a dark outline. The bird’s face is also light coloured with a dark linear mark through the eye. Its upperparts and wings are dark grey and the bird has a white rump patch.

Distribution
The White-faced Storm Petrel is a migratory species with the sub-species occurring in the Madeira and Canaries archipelagos under the form (P.m. hypoleuca) and in the Cape Verde archipelago under the form (P.m. eadesi). In the Madeira archipelago the bird nests only on the Selvagens islands (Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora), where it can be easily seen at sea between January and September.

Habitat
It spends most of its time at sea, feeding on plankton, and is rarely seen following boats. The bird only goes to land to nest and at night.

Breeding
Both parents excavate the deep nest in sandy ground. On the Selvagens islands, the nests are protected by two types of plant of the species Mesembryanthenum cristallinum and M. nodiflorum. The roots of these plants hold up the nest tunnel accesses. A single egg is laid at the end of March and the chick hatches in May. Eight to ten weeks later the young bird is already flying.

Madeiran name: Calcamar
Portuguese name: Painho-de-ventre-branco
Selvagens Islands breeder (summer migrant)
Social: Small flocks
Length: 17 – 21 cm
Status: Vulnerable / localized
Seasonality in Madeira: From February to August in Selvagens Islands

Recommend Tours to watch this species:
Zino's Petrel Pelagic Expedition