Procellariiformes

views updated

Procellariiformes (albatrosses, diving petrels, petrels, shearwaters, storm petrels; class Aves) An order of small to large sea-birds that have small to large bills with horny plates and tubular nostrils. They secrete oil which can be regurgitated in defence and which gives them a musty smell. They are pelagic, marine birds, feeding on fish, plankton, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, and nesting on isolated islands and cliffs. There are four families, found world-wide.

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

Procellariiformes

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article

You Might Also Like