Herald petrel
Seabird with a vast Pacific and Indian Ocean range.
The Herald petrel (Pterodroma heraldica) is a seabird belonging to the group known as gadfly petrels. It inhabits the south Pacific and Indian Oceans. This bird measures 35 to 39 centimeters in length, with a wingspan of 88 to 102 centimeters. It was once thought to be the same species as the Trindade petrel and the Henderson petrel. The species appears in several color forms, including dark, light, and intermediate variations.
For nesting, the Herald petrel uses oceanic islands and atolls, choosing cliff ledges, ridges, or rocky slopes. Feral cats and rats threaten nesting birds on some islands. While mainly found in the south Pacific, it has also been observed in Hawaii. In May 2007, a bird tagged on Raine Island in 1984 was seen off the coast of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, extending the known lifespan and range of the species. In 2009, a previously unidentified *Pterodroma* species breeding on Round Island, 22 kilometers north of Mauritius, was identified as the Herald petrel. In August 2017, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services staff confirmed a chick had hatched on Raine Island, after an adult was seen caring for a single egg in June 2017. This was the first confirmed breeding of the species in 30 years, and Raine Island remains the only known breeding site in Australia.
The Herald petrel is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List. However, it is classified as critically endangered under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (effective July 2002) and under Queensland's Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 (November 2021 list). A recovery plan was in effect from 2005 to 2015, but as of July 2022, no plan is operational due to high government protection and relatively few, well-managed threats to the Raine Island population. A 2018 study ranked this species ninth among Australian birds most likely to go extinct.
- size
- 35–39 cm (14–15 in)
- wingspan
- 88–102 cm (35–40 in)
- conservation_status
- Least Concern (IUCN); critically endangered (Australian EPBC Act)
- known_for
- Long lifespan and transoceanic range; only known Australian breeding site on Raine Island
Lore & Background
The Herald petrel was formerly considered conspecific with the Trindade petrel and Henderson petrel. It has various colour morphs: dark and light, as well as intermediates between the two. Found primarily in the south Pacific, it has been seen in Hawaii. In May 2007, a Herald petrel tagged on Raine Island in 1984 was observed off the coast of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, greatly increasing the known life span and range of the species. In 2009 it was identified as this species, from what was previously an unidentified Pterodroma species, to be breeding on Round Island, 22 km (14 mi) north of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean.
Reader's Guide
The Herald petrel is significant for its wide distribution across the south Pacific and Indian Oceans, and for the remarkable longevity and dispersal demonstrated by a bird tagged in 1984 and observed in 2007. Its conservation status is mixed: globally evaluated as 'Least Concern' on the IUCN Red List, but listed as critically endangered under Australian law. A 2018 study ranked the species ninth in a list of Australian birds most likely to go extinct. The only known Australian breeding site is on Raine Island, where in August 2017 a chick was confirmed for the first time in 30 years. Threats include feral cats and rats on some islands. While a recovery plan was in effect from 2005 to 2015, as of July 2022 no recovery plan is operational, due to high protection and relatively few, well-managed threats on Raine Island.
Did You Know?
- The Herald petrel was formerly considered conspecific with the Trindade petrel and Henderson petrel.
- In May 2007, a Herald petrel tagged on Raine Island in 1984 was observed off the coast of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
- In August 2017, a Herald petrel chick hatched on Raine Island, the first confirmed breeding in 30 years.
- The species is listed as critically endangered under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Herald petrel?
It is a gadfly petrel (Pterodroma heraldica) that ranges across the south Pacific and Indian Oceans. Adults measure roughly 35–39 cm in body length with a wingspan of 88–102 cm, and they come in dark, light, and intermediate plumage variants.
Where does the Herald petrel breed?
It selects oceanic islands and atolls, nesting on cliff ledges, rocky slopes, and ridges rather than open flat ground. Raine Island is its only confirmed breeding site within Australian waters.
How is the Herald petrel related to the Trindade and Henderson petrels?
Early taxonomists treated all three as a single species, but the Herald petrel is now recognised as distinct. Its plumage variation (dark, light, and intermediate morphs) likely contributed to the initial confusion.
What are the biggest threats to the Herald petrel?
Feral cats and rats prey on nesting birds and their eggs at several island colonies. Despite those local pressures, the IUCN still rates the species as Least Concern globally, while Australia's EPBC Act lists it as critically endangered.
What makes the Herald petrel notable among Pacific seabirds?
It is known for an exceptionally long lifespan and a transoceanic range that spans both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. That combination of longevity and vast foraging distance sets it apart from many other gadfly petrels.
More in Birds of the Pacific Ocean 1-24
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