Welcome to the Procellariiformes Page!
The Procellariiformes include the the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels.
A Sooty Shearwater flying near Avila Beach, California, USA.
About Procellariiformes
"Procellariiformes is an order of seabirds that comprises four families: the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels. Formerly called Tubinares and still called tubenoses in English, they are often referred to collectively as the petrels, a term that has been applied to all Procellariiformes, or more commonly all the families except the albatrosses. They are almost exclusively pelagic (feeding in the open ocean). They have a cosmopolitan distribution across the world's oceans, with the highest diversity being around New Zealand." Wikipedia
About Procellariiformes
"Procellariiformes is an order of seabirds that comprises four families: the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels. Formerly called Tubinares and still called tubenoses in English, they are often referred to collectively as the petrels, a term that has been applied to all Procellariiformes, or more commonly all the families except the albatrosses. They are almost exclusively pelagic (feeding in the open ocean). They have a cosmopolitan distribution across the world's oceans, with the highest diversity being around New Zealand." Wikipedia
Procellariiformes Classification *Source: Wikipedia
- Family Procellariidae (shearwaters, fulmarine petrels, gadfly petrels, and prions) - small or medium-sized seabirds, the largest being the giant petrels. They are heavy for their size, so they need to fly fast. Most, except the giant petrels, have weak legs and are nearly helpless on land.
- Family Diomedeidae (albatrosses) are very large seabirds with a large strong hooked bill. They have strong legs, enabling them to walk well on land.
- Family Hydrobatidae (storm petrels) are among the smallest seabirds, with fluttering flight and long but weak legs. Most have dark upperparts and a white underside.
- Family Pelecanoididae (diving petrels) are small with short bills and wings, and a whirring flight low over the water and through wave-crests.
Web Resources
All Procellariiformes
Tree of Life - Procellariiformes Photos
Animal Diversity Web - Procellariiformes Pictures
Albatrosses
The Guardian - Wisdom, the 62 year old Layson Albatross
ARKIVE - Layson Albatrosses (same kind as Wisdom)
Cornell Lab of Ornithology - The Black-footed Albatross
The Internet Bird - Wandering Albatross
A Story about Albatross
ARKive - Shy Albatross
Shearwaters
Internet Bird - Cory's Shearwater - Photos, Videos and Bird Songs
Internet Bird - Petrals and Shearwaters
Storm Petrels
Internet Bird - Storm Petrals - Videos, Photos & Bird Song
All Procellariiformes
Tree of Life - Procellariiformes Photos
Animal Diversity Web - Procellariiformes Pictures
Albatrosses
The Guardian - Wisdom, the 62 year old Layson Albatross
ARKIVE - Layson Albatrosses (same kind as Wisdom)
Cornell Lab of Ornithology - The Black-footed Albatross
The Internet Bird - Wandering Albatross
A Story about Albatross
ARKive - Shy Albatross
Shearwaters
Internet Bird - Cory's Shearwater - Photos, Videos and Bird Songs
Internet Bird - Petrals and Shearwaters
Storm Petrels
Internet Bird - Storm Petrals - Videos, Photos & Bird Song
Projects, Activities & Video Tutorials
Journal Entry - The Procellariiformes
Guidelines:
Watch the below video clips from BBC about the Procellariiformes, or sea birds. Research procellariiformes of interest from Wikipedia's article. Select a specific procellariiformes bird species. Draw one picture of the bird of interest using photographs from Wikipedia to assist you. Color your drawing. Put interesting facts in your journal about the bird. Photograph the page from your journal and upload the image to your student blog or website. Try to photograph the entry so the writing and drawing details can be seen and read clearly for sharing. Below are some questions to assist your journal writing.
- What behavior did you notice about the shearwaters in the first video?
- How did the shearwaters secure the meal of tuna?
- How do the shearwaters show their tenacity even after the whales and sharks left the "bait ball" of tuna?
- How deep can the shearwaters dive for their meal?
- What interesting and amusing behavior do the Providence Petrels display in the second video called "Bird Calls from David Attenborough"?
- How do Providence Petrels display trust toward humans in this video's example?
Live Classroom Videos (to be viewed during the Birds Mar. - May Spring Live class experience. Students are welcome to preview the videos, however, please know that we will be watching these same videos during the live class too).
Informative Videos