Page "Procellariiformes" Paragraph 20

Procellariiformes are monogamous breeders and form long term pair-bonds.

These pair bonds take several years to develop in some species, particularly with the albatrosses.

Having formed they will last for many breeding seasons, in some cases for the life of the pair.

Petrel courtship can be an elaborate affair.

It reaches its extreme with the albatrosses, where pairs of albatrosses spend many years perfecting and elaborate mating dances.

These dances are composed of synchronised performances of various actions such as preening, pointing, calling, bill clacking, staring, and combinations of such behaviours ( like the sky-call ).

Each particular pair will develop their own individual version of the dance.

The breeding behaviour of other Procellariiformes are less elaborate, although similar bonding behaviours are involved, particularly for the surface nesting procellariids.

These can involve synchronised flights, mutual preening and calling.

Calls are important for helping birds locate potential mates and distinguish between species and may also serve a function in helping individuals assess the quality of potential mates.

After pair formation has occurred calls also serve to help them reunite, the ability of individuals to recognise their own mate has also been demonstrated in several species.