Seabird order
Procellariiformes
Albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters and storm petrels
The tubenoses are the most truly oceanic of all birds. They spend most of their lives far from land, coming ashore only to breed.
How to recognize them
All members share tube-shaped nostrils on top of the bill. Their bills are made of several horny plates, and the tip is hooked. They range from storm petrels barely larger than a sparrow to the wandering albatross, whose wingspan can exceed 3 m, the largest of any living bird.
Masters of the open ocean
Albatrosses and shearwaters use the wind over the waves to glide for hours with barely a wingbeat. A strong sense of smell helps many species locate patchy food across featureless ocean.
Life history
Tubenoses nest in colonies, mostly on remote, predator-free islands. They lay a single egg, and both parents share incubation and feeding. Pairs often stay together for life. They produce a rich stomach oil to store energy and feed their chicks, and can spit it at intruders.
Conservation
This is one of the most threatened groups of birds. Longline and trawl fisheries, invasive predators on breeding islands and plastic ingestion are major threats.
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