Jouanins Petrel (Bulweria fallax)

Jouanins Petrel

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Genus

The Bulweria Petrels comprise only two species that rather closely related to the fulmarine petrels. Both are dark brown birds. Bulweria is represented in the three major oceans by the Bulwer’s Petrel. The larger but otherwise similar Jouanin’s Petrel is restricted to the Indian Ocean.

Physical charateristics

Looks very similar to B. bulweri, yet more robust head and bill. Lacks the upperwing bar, otherwise similar. Head is black and eyes are brown. Body dark brown allover with a more blackish throat and back. Legs are pink and bill is black.

wingspan min.:	76	cm	wingspan max.:	83	cm
size min.:	30	cm	size max.:	32	cm
incubation min.:	0	days	incubation max.:	0	days
fledging min.:	0	days	fledging max.:	0	days
broods:	0		eggs min.:	0
			eggs max.:	0

Range

Indian Ocean : Northwest. Bulweria fallax is a Pacific Oceanorly known species of the north-west Indian Ocean, occurring widely offshore in the Arabian Sea and Gulfs of Aden and Oman, where it is often the commonest pelagic seabird

Habitat

Probably favors seacliffs to breed, otherwise pelagic.

Reproduction

No data, breeding grounds hardly explored

Feeding habits

Its foraging areas are poorly known, but presumably related to highly productive areas of oceanic upwelling7. It flies low, taking food from the surface of sea, probably mainly plankton e.g. fish eggs, ctenophores and polychaete worms

Conservation

This species is listed as Near Threatened because it is suspected to have a moderately small range. If this was found to be in decline or smaller than suspected, the species may qualify for uplisting to a higher threat category.

Migration

Very little known. Recorded in southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and well out into Arabian Sea. Twice recorded south to Kenya. Exceptional cases of 2 birds in Adriatic Sea and 1 bird captured in Hawaii.

Distribution map

Jouanins Petrel distribution range map

Planet of Birds