White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis Feeding on a Dead Dolphin

Authors

Fabio Schunck, Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos – CBROFollow
Rita Souza
Daniel N. Donadio
Leandro Correa
Rodrigo Bicudo
Miguel Oliveira De Souza
Pedro Giovani Cunha E Silva
Elenice Dias
Evair Legal
Fabio Barata

Abstract

The White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis is an opportunistic forager that often follows fishing boats to feed upon scraps or escaped/discarded fish. Although its diet in non-breeding areas is not well understood, studies of stomach contents indicate that its diet consists of fish, crustaceans, and squid. In June 2024, during a pelagic birding trip off the coast of Santa Catarina State, Brazil, a White-chinned Petrel was spotted feeding on the floating carcass of a Franciscana Dolphin Pontoporia blainvillei. This behavior has not been previously documented in the literature, online citizen science platforms, or by personal observation. We believe this to be an uncommon, opportunistic feeding strategy for this petrel species.

DOI

http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.1.1633

Creative Commons License

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Recommended Citation

Schunck, Fabio; Souza, Rita; Donadio, Daniel N.; Correa, Leandro; Bicudo, Rodrigo; Souza, Miguel Oliveira De; Silva, Pedro Giovani Cunha E; Dias, Elenice; Legal, Evair; and Barata, Fabio (2025) "White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis Feeding on a Dead Dolphin," Marine Ornithology: Vol. 53 : Iss. 1 , Article 26.
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.1.1633
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/marine_ornithology/vol53/iss1/26