Group 4 —
The Diving Petrels

Diving Petrels of the Family Pelecanoididae are distinctive and easily recognisable at sea. They are small, compact birds with black upperparts and white underparts. The manner and speed in which the short, rounded wings propel the plump-bodied petrel through the air is strongly reminiscent of bumblebees.

Diving Petrels are well named since they spend a lot of their time under water, chasing small prey with the aid of their paddle-like wings. In the vicinity of their breeding islands, flocks of Diving Petrels can be observed suddenly emerging from the sea to take flight for short distances before plunging again beneath the waves. In the open sea, they are usually encountered singly or in small groups.