J. Brian Patteson
Bradford S. Keitt
Chris P. Gaskin
Patrick G.R. Jodice
Yvan G. Satgé
2025
<p><i>Pterodroma hasitata</i><span>, the Black-capped Petrel (locally known as Diablotin), is the only extant </span><i>Pterodroma</i><span> petrel nesting in the Caribbean. The species is listed as globally Endangered by the IUCN and was recently listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. </span><i>Pterodroma hasitata</i><span> show a phenotypic gradient, ranging from a darker, smaller form to a paler, heavier form, that is reflected in a strong genetic structure. This phylogenetic divergence suggests the existence of at least two distinct breeding populations. We report on pre-breeding movements of two male </span><i>Pterodroma hasitata</i><span>, one of each form, tracked by satellite from non-breeding areas in Gulf Stream waters of the western North Atlantic Ocean to breeding locations in Hispaniola in late 2019. Based on a combination of tracking locations, location error classes, battery voltage, and satellite communication schedules, we infer that the light-form petrel visited a nest in central Dominican Republic during 2 to 8 October and 9 to 15 October, and the dark form visited a nest in southeastern Haiti during 9 to 22 November and 29 November to 3 December. This information supports earlier suggestions that </span><i>Pterodroma hasitata</i><span> forms breed in allochrony and in allopatry, both of which may be a driver of speciation.</span></p>
application/pdf
10.55431/jco.2025.38.59-66
en
BirdsCaribbean
Satellite tracking supports hypotheses of breeding allochrony and allopatry in the Endangered Pterodroma hasitata (Black-capped Petrel, Diablotin)
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