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Westarctica (talk | contribs) (Created page with "thumb|Cape Petrel in flight The '''Cape petrel''' (''Daption capense''), also called the '''Cape pigeon''', or '''Cape fulmar''', is a commo...") |
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[[File:Cape Petrel in flight.jpg|thumb|Cape Petrel in flight]] | [[File:Cape Petrel in flight.jpg|thumb|Cape Petrel in flight]] | ||
The '''Cape petrel''' (''Daption capense''), also called the '''Cape pigeon''', or '''Cape fulmar''', is a common seabird of the [[Southern Ocean]] from the family Procellariidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Daption'', and is allied to the fulmarine petrels, and the giant | The '''Cape petrel''' (''Daption capense''), also called the '''Cape pigeon''', or '''Cape fulmar''', is a common seabird of the [[Southern Ocean]] from the family Procellariidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Daption'', and is allied to the fulmarine petrels, and the [[giant petrel]]s. They are extremely common seabirds with an estimated population of around 2 million. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
The Cape petrel is the only known member of the genus ''Daption'' and is in turn a member of the family Procellariidae and order Procellariiformes. There appears to be a subgroup within the family consisting of the giant | The Cape petrel is the only known member of the genus ''Daption'' and is in turn a member of the family Procellariidae and order Procellariiformes. There appears to be a subgroup within the family consisting of the [[giant petrel]]s, the members of Fulmarus, the [[Antarctic petrel]], and the [[snow petrel]]. | ||
''Daption'' is derived from Ancient Greek for "little devourer", and the Cape name is because of where the type specimen was collected. Finally, pintado is Spanish for "painted" for its plumage. One of their other names, Cape pigeon, is from their habit of pecking at the water for food. The word ''petrel'' is derived from St. Peter and the story of his walking on water. This is in reference to the petrel's habit of appearing to run on the water to take off. | ''Daption'' is derived from Ancient Greek for "little devourer", and the Cape name is because of where the type specimen was collected. Finally, pintado is Spanish for "painted" for its plumage. One of their other names, Cape pigeon, is from their habit of pecking at the water for food. The word ''petrel'' is derived from St. Peter and the story of his walking on water. This is in reference to the petrel's habit of appearing to run on the water to take off. | ||
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[[File:Cape Petrel1.jpg|thumb|Cape petrel flying over open ocean]] | [[File:Cape Petrel1.jpg|thumb|Cape petrel flying over open ocean]] | ||
===Diet=== | ===Diet=== | ||
The Cape petrels' diet is 80% crustaceans, as well as fish and squid. [[Krill]] is their | The Cape petrels' diet is 80% crustaceans, as well as fish and squid. [[Krill]] is their favorite crustacean, which they obtain by surface seizing as well as diving under water and filtering them out. They are also well known for following ships and eating edible waste and carcasses thrown overboard. They are aggressive while feeding and will spit their stomach oil at competitors, even their own species. | ||
===Breeding=== | ===Breeding=== | ||