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Pterodroma sandwichensis

(Ridgway, 1884)

Hawaiian Petrel

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
EndangeredIUCN
Very highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100488
Element CodeABNDB03160
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNEndangered
EndemicOccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations, but breeds in a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderProcellariiformes
FamilyProcellariidae
GenusPterodroma
Synonyms
Pterodroma phaeopygia sandwichensis
Other Common Names
Hawaiian petrel ('ua'u) (EN) Pétrel des Hawaï (FR) Uau (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 2002. Forty-third supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk 119(3):897-906.
Taxonomic Comments
Previously considered conspecific with P. phaeopygia (formerly Dark-rumped Petrel, now Galapagos Petrel; AOU 1998), but considered a full species by Sibley and Monroe (1993) and Banks et al. (2002) on the basis of differences in vocalizations and morphology (Tomkins and Milne 1991, Browne et al. 1997) that are comparable to species-level differences elsewhere in the genus. Sometimes regarded as conspecific with P. hasitata (AOU 1983).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-08-01
Change Date2022-08-01
Edition Date2022-08-01
Edition AuthorsLombard, K., G. Hammerson, L. Kashinsky, S. Cannings, and M. Laut (2011), Sears, N. (2022).
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
This species has a small breeding range in the Hawaiian Islands where it has undergone an extensive long-term decline due to habitat destruction and predation. Introduced mammals and the effects of artificial light are significant ongoing threats and will likely lead to continued long-term declines in some sub-populations.
Range Extent Comments
This species ranges in the central Pacific and breeds on the Hawaiian Islands (USA). There are vagrant records for Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines, and sight and photographic records from California and Oregon.
Occurrences Comments
This species nests among the following main Hawaiian Islands (USFWS 2017, 2022):

Hawai'i Island - there are six known breeding sites.
Maui - three of the four managed colonies currently have breeding Hawaiian petrels present.
Lana'i - there are four key colonies.
Kaua'i - there are ten conservation sites, however, not all currently have breeding populations. It is distributed predominantly in the north-west of the island in remote and inaccessible areas, with small pockets remaining at scattered locations in the rest of the island.

On O'ahu, no burrows have been located but Hawaiian petrel calls continue to be detected on acoustic monitors at two sites (USFWS 2022). The species has not been detected on Molokai (USFWS 2017) and as of 2022, no recent surveys have been conducted (USFWS 2022).
Threat Impact Comments
Early declines were the result of predation by humans and introduced dogs and pigs (Simons and Hodges 1998). At present, predation by rats, and feral cats is the most serious threat (BirdLife International 2018). Other threats include mosquito-borne diseases, collision with human-made obstacles (e.g. fences and power lines), light attraction and subsequent groundings, habitat destruction, invasive plants, and feral bees (Simons and Hodges 1998, Ainley and Podolsky 1993, Van Zandt et al. 2014, Raine et al. 2022, USFWS 2017, 2022). Threats at sea are poorly known, but it is likely impacted by climate change, overfishing of prey items, bycatch and plastic consumption (Raine 2022 in USFWS 2022).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A seabird with gray-black upperparts and white forehead-underparts. Length is 43 cm, wing length is 304 mm, body mass 434 g (Simons 1985)

From Simons and Hodges (1998): One of the larger Pterodroma petrels. Mean measurements of Hawaiian birds: length 43 cm; wing span 98 cm; wing length 304 mm; body mass 434 g. Wings and tail relatively long and pointed compared with other Pterodroma. Distinctive head pattern with black hood extending below eye to sides of neck (forming partial collar at sides of neck); hood contrasts sharply with white forehead, lower cheeks and throat. Upperparts rather uniformly dark grayish black, blending to black on wing-tips and tail; often shows narrow white lines at sides nearly across rump. Upperparts of live birds appear distinctly more black and charcoal gray than museum specimens, which tend to fade to dark velvet brown. Underwing white, with black margins and diagonal bar extending across coverts to near base of wing. Small dark patch in axillaries diagnostic if seen. Underparts white. Legs and feet flesh-pink, the distal two thirds of the webs black. Iris black in nestlings, turning dark brown before fledging. Bill black.

Habitat

Nonbreeding: pelagic. Nests in burrows in barren areas high on mountain slopes (2500-3000 m on Maui); commonly in erosional debris at base of rock outcrop; typically on steep slopes under large rocks in the vicinity of shrub cover (Brandt et al. 1995); usually uses same nest site in successive years (Simons 1985).

From Simons and Hodges (1998): Breeding Range - Most of the known Dark-rumped petrel nest sites remaining today can be found in and around Haleakala National Park, Maui Island. The park encompasses most of the summit of Haleakala. Vegetation associated with most known Dark-rumped petrel nesting areas as subhumid and subalpine. In these dry habitats, vegetative cover is generally 10%, and plant community is dominated by several shrubby species including Styphelia tameiameiae, Coprosma ernodeoides, Vaccinium reticulatum, and Dubautia menzeiesii. In areas at lower elevations, which receive slightly more precipitation, petrels burrow extensively in soil-covered slopes, which are blanketed by several species of native grasses; Trisetum glomeratum, Deschamsia nubigena, Agrostris sandwichensis, and Pteridium aquilinum. A small subcolony has been located along the more densely vegetated south rim of the crater, where birds nest in a shrub community. Nesting habitat on Hawaii Island resemble those on Haleakala, scattered active burrows reprted at elevations from 2000 to 3000 m on Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea. Recent surveys along the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa documented 48 active nests in ancient pahoehoe lava flows at elevations between 2500 and 3000 m.

Ecology

Usually solitary at sea (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

Reproduction

Single egg is laid between late-April and mid-May; incubation, by both sexes in shifts of about 2 weeks, lasts 54-58 days; eggs hatch in late June-July; young fledge in October-early December at 100-110 days; multi-annual pair-bond; first breeds at about 6 years; up to 7 nests/ha.
Terrestrial Habitats
Bare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2B
ProvinceRankNative
HawaiiS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculturePervasive - largeSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingPervasive - largeSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
3 - Energy production & miningLarge - smallUnknownModerate (short-term)
3.3 - Renewable energyLarge - smallUnknownModerate (short-term)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.2 - Utility & service linesPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource usePervasive (71-100%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animalsPervasive - largeSerious or 31-70% pop. declineInsignificant/negligible or past
5.4 - Fishing & harvesting aquatic resourcesPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.6 - Excess energyPervasive - largeModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineLow (long-term)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineLow (long-term)

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Roadless Areas (4)
Oregon (4)
AreaForestAcres
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
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