The definitive reference work to the gadfly petrels, by the world's leading seabirders ? the first in the four-part 'Tubenoses of the World' series.

The gadfly petrels of the genus Pterodroma roam the world's oceans, picking prey items from the surface, where they are renowned for their speedy, weaving flight and subtle brown, black and white plumage. Generally seen only at sea, and often very far from land, they represent one of the great wonders of birding and are high on any birdwatcher's wish-list. Yet seeing and identifying these birds presents one of the sternest challenges in field birding. It is a group that inspired awe, featuring species that vanish for decades, surprising and unusual ecologies, and testing taxonomic puzzles.

This book brings all of our knowledge and understanding of these birds together. Written by two of the leading world's leading seabird ornithologists, Hadoram Shirihai and Vincent Bretagnolle, and packed with the authors' photography, it explores each of the world's gadfly petrels in intricate detail, with full coverage of all known variation across every species, subspecies and morph. The comprehensive text covers areas such as breeding biology, at-sea ecology, taxonomy, feather anatomy, range, and measurements. It is rich with new discoveries and insight that will shape research into these birds for decades to come. The text are accompanied by detailed maps showing the very latest findings into the breeding and wintering distributions of these birds. 

The book is completed by a peerless set of colour plates by seabird expert Tim Worfolk, showcasing these birds in brilliant and compelling detail. 

The product of a lifetime of study and research, much of it at sea, Gadfly Petrels is the ultimate reference to these birds, and the first in a four-part series of books dedicated to the tubenoses of the world.