Procellariiformes

Common Names

The Procellariiformes are commonly referred to as tubenoses, due to their characteristic tube-like nostrils. However, they are also known by a variety of other common names, including albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, fulmars, and storm petrels.

Characteristics

Procellariiformes share a number of distinctive characteristics, including:

• Tube-like nostrils: These nostrils are located on the top of the beak and are used to smell out food sources, such as fish, squid, and krill.
• Webbed feet: These feet are adapted for swimming and propelling the birds through the water.
• Strong wings: Procellariiformes have long, strong wings that allow them to soar for long distances over the ocean.
• Salt glands: These glands are located above the eyes and help to remove excess salt from the body, which is important for birds that spend a lot of time at sea.
• Unique vocalizations: Procellariiformes have a wide variety of vocalizations, including grunts, whistles, and screams, which they use to communicate with each other.

Environments

Procellariiformes are found in all of the world's oceans, but are particularly abundant in the Southern Hemisphere. They are highly adapted to a pelagic lifestyle, spending most of their time at sea and only coming ashore to breed. They are often found in areas where there are upwellings of cold, nutrient-rich water, which support a rich diversity of marine life. These birds are important indicators of ocean health, as their populations can be affected by changes in the environment, such as pollution, climate change, and overfishing.

References

For further information on Procellariiformes, you can refer to these reliable sources:

• BirdLife International
• Handbook of the Birds of the World
• Wikipedia