Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata): Photos, Range and Facts

Overview

The black-capped petrel (Pterodroma hasitata), also known as the diablotín, is a small seabird native to the West Indies in the genus Pterodroma. It is a long-winged petrel with a grey-brown back and wings, with a white nape and rump. Underparts are mainly white apart from a black cap (that in some individuals extends to cover the eye) and some dark underwing markings. It picks food items such as squid from the ocean surface.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Breeds montane Hispaniola ("Black-faced") and Dominica ("White-faced"), perhaps also southeastern Cuba and northeastern Jamaica; extinct as a breeder Guadeloupe; ranges to Gulf Stream off southern Canada to North Carolina and throughout Caribbean.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Continents

Europe
North America
South America

Countries

Bahamas
Brazil
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Guyana
Haiti
Spain
United States
Venezuela

Sources and further reading

Wikipedia: Black-capped petrel
eBird: sightings, maps and photos
xeno-canto: sound recordings
Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
IUCN Red List (threat status)
AviList global checklist (taxonomy)

Last updated September 29, 2026.