Breeding ecology of the White-headed Petrel Pterodroma lessoni on the Kerguelen Islands

The breeding season of the White-headed Petrel Pterodroma lessoni on Mayes Island off the Kerguelen archipelago was studied between December 1985 and February 1987. The birds returned to land in November, and the chicks hatched at the end of January and fledged in May. These incubation and fledging periods are among the longest known in the family Procellariidae. Successful birds normally bred every two years, which has not previously been reported for any member of this family. The breeding ecology is compared to that of other gadfly petrels from sub-antarctic and tropical waters, and the breeding frequency is discussed.