Photo: Christoph Moning / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Seabirds & Tubenoses

Desertas Petrel

Pterodroma deserta

Desertas Petrel (Pterodroma deserta) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Brazil Birds of Canada Birds of Spain Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of Ireland Birds of Portugal Birds of the United States Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of England

By family

Petrels & Shearwaters of Brazil Petrels & Shearwaters of Canada Petrels & Shearwaters of Spain Petrels & Shearwaters of the United Kingdom Petrels & Shearwaters of Ireland Petrels & Shearwaters of Portugal Petrels & Shearwaters of the United States Petrels & Shearwaters of Nova Scotia Petrels & Shearwaters of England

See what's near you right now

The Desertas Petrel (Pterodroma deserta) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 311 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
Genus Pterodroma
Species deserta

Where it lives

Summer breeder on Bugio (Desertas Is., southeast of Madeira, central Macaronesia, west of northern Africa)

Oceans & Seabirds

Quick facts

Weight: 311 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Procellariidae
Order: Procellariiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Endangered

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Desertas Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Desertas Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Desertas Petrel (Pterodroma deserta) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AO summer breeder on Bugio (Desertas Is., se of Madeira, c Macaronesia, w of n Africa).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 311 g, with a wing length of about 25.3 cm and a tail of around 10.6 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 44 million km² — a very large global range.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Desertas Petrel?

The Desertas Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 311 g.

Where does the Desertas Petrel live?

The Desertas Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AO summer breeder on Bugio (Desertas Is., se of Madeira, c Macaronesia, w of n Africa), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Desertas Petrel belong to?

The Desertas Petrel (Pterodroma deserta) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.

What does the Desertas Petrel eat?

The Desertas Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Desertas Petrel migrate?

The Desertas Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Desertas Petrel endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

How large is the Desertas Petrel's range?

The Desertas Petrel has a mapped global range of about 44 million km².