Soft-plumaged Petrel

Soft-plumaged Petrel

Pterodroma mollis

Introduction

The Soft-plumaged Petrel is one of several Pterodroma petrels, including the similar Fea's, Desertas and Zino's Petrel. Identification of these species requires good views, which are rarely afforded by land-based seawatching. Soft-plumaged Petrel is a southern hemisphere breeder and extremely rare in Europe with only one previous record (Norway, 2009). In autumn 2021 a "Fea's type" petrel was claimed at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire and was tracked as it migrated up the coast as far as Northumberland. Although distant, the repeated opportunities to capture photographs resulted in sufficient evidence to be amassed of the key features of Soft-plumaged Petrel, allowing this record to be confirmed as the first UK record.

Key Stats

Population and distribution stats for:
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Movement

Information about Soft-plumaged Petrel movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

European movements

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Soft-plumaged Petrel, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Soft-plumaged Petrel

Classification and Codes

  • Order: Procellariformes
  • Family: Procellaridae
  • Scientific name: Pterodroma mollis
  • Authority: Gould, 1844
  • Euring code number: 261

Alternate species names

  • Catalan: Petrell sedós
  • Czech: bu??ák hebký
  • Danish: Fløjlspetrel
  • Dutch: Donsstormvogel
  • Finnish: vyöviistäjä
  • French: Pétrel soyeux
  • German: Weichfeder-Sturmvogel
  • Hungarian: selymes viharmadár
  • Icelandic: Unnardrúði
  • Italian: Petrello soffice
  • Lithuanian: Atlantinis audrašauklis
  • Norwegian: Silkepetrell
  • Polish: petrel mi?kkopióry
  • Portuguese: grazina-delicada
  • Slovak: tajfúnnik hodvábny
  • Spanish: Petrel Suave
  • Swedish: sammetspetrell

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.
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