South Georgian Diving Petrel [Pelecanoides georgicus]
Description
The South Georgian Diving Petrel is a small seabird that reaches about 20 cm in length. It has a uniform dark grey plumage and a short, thick beak. It feeds mainly on small crustaceans and cephalopods, diving underwater to catch its prey. It is known to breed on a few islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean, including South Georgia, from which it gets its name. The species is considered vulnerable due to predation by introduced mammals and habitat destruction.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Albatrosses, Petrels, and Shearwaters
Procellariiformes
|
| Family |
Diving Petrels
Pelecanoididae
|
| Genus |
South Georgian
Pelecanoides
|