Zino's Petrel

(Pterodroma madeira)

Zino's petrel is a small sea bird that is endemic to Madeira.

It nests in the central mountain range where it returns every evening after spending the day at sea.

The eerie calls it makes made shepherds think they were the ghost of nuns who escaped pirate attacks, so the locals call them Freiras, nuns.

They mate for life and it is believed they can live till they are 16 years of age.