Hawaiian Petrel

Basic Description

The Hawaiian Petrel is a bird of extremes, an endangered species that nests in burrows high on the slopes of Hawaii's majestic volcanoes and spends the rest of the year ranging across the Pacific Ocean. These large dark-and-white petrels wheel high over ocean waters on long, pointed wings and swoop down to snatch squid and fish from the sea surface. Its Hawaiian name, Uau, is an echo of the bird's call, given in flight near breeding sites. The small breeding population is threatened by nest predation from introduced rats, cats, and Indian mongoose.