The
family Procellariidae is a group of
seabirds that comprises the
fulmarine petrels, the
gadfly petrels, the
prions, and the
shearwaters. This family is part of the
bird order
Procellariiformes (or tubenoses), which also includes the
albatrosses, the
storm-petrels, and the
diving petrels. The procellariids are the most numerous family of tubenoses, and the most diverse. They range in size from the
giant petrels, which are almost as large as the albatrosses, to the prions, which are as small as the larger storm-petrels. They feed on
fish,
squid and
crustacea, with many also taking
fisheries discards and
carrion. All species are accomplished long-distance foragers, and many undertake long
trans-equatorial migrations. They are
colonial breeders, exhibiting long-term
mate fidelity and
site philopatry. In all species, each pair lays a single
egg per breeding season. Their incubation times and chick-rearing periods are exceptionally long compared to other birds.
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