Cape petrel

The Cape petrel, also known as the Cape pigeon, pintado petrel, or Cape fulmar, is a striking seabird that inhabits the Southern Ocean. Belonging to the family Procellariidae, it is the only species in the genus Daption. With an estimated population of about 2 million, these birds are both numerous and fascinating, closely related to fulmarine and giant petrels.

Cape petrels share several intriguing features with other seabirds in their order, Procellariiformes. Notably, they have distinctive nasal passages connected to their upper bill, and their bifurcated bills are covered in horny plates. They produce a specialized stomach oil to feed their chicks and to ward off predators. Additionally, they possess a unique salt gland that enables them to desalinate seawater.

There are two subspecies of Cape petrels: D. capense capense and D. capense australe, both of which breed on subantarctic islands. The genus name "Daption" is derived from Ancient Greek, and "Cape" refers to the location where the type specimen was collected. The term "pintado" which means "painted" in Spanish, alludes to their beautifully speckled plumage. The name "petrel" is inspired by St. Peter, who, according to the Bible, walked on water—echoing the bird's behavior when taking off from the water's surface.

Cape petrels are easily recognizable by their black and white speckled feathers, black head and neck, and white underparts. Their wingspan can reach up to 86 cm. They primarily feed on crustaceans, fish, and squid, with krill being their preferred prey. These birds are also known to scavenge for food around ships.

During the breeding season, Cape petrels lay a single egg and ferociously guard their nests, using their stomach oil as a defensive weapon. They breed in Antarctica and on subantarctic islands, with some migrating as far as Angola and the Galápagos Islands during the winter. Their primary breeding locations include the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and various islands scattered across the Southern Ocean.