Mother Carey's chicken meaning

Mother Carey's chicken is a term used to describe the storm petrel bird that sailors believed was associated with bad luck at sea.


Mother Carey's chicken definitions

Word backwards rehtoM s'yeraC nekcihc
Part of speech Mother Carey's chicken is a noun.
Syllabic division The syllable separation of the word "Mother Carey's chicken" is: Moth-er Car-ey's chick-en
Plural The plural of the word Mother Carey's chicken is Mother Carey's chickens.
Total letters 19
Vogais (4) o,e,a,i
Consonants (10) m,t,h,r,c,y,s,k,n

Mother Carey's chicken, also known as the Wilson's storm petrel, is a small seabird that belongs to the Oceanitidae family. These birds have a unique appearance with a dark plumage and a white rump, making them easily identifiable in the wild.

Wilson's storm petrels are found in oceans across the world, from the Arctic to the Antarctic regions. They are highly adapted to life at sea, spending most of their time flying low over the water surface in search of food.

These seabirds are expert foragers, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and squid. They use their keen sense of smell to locate prey in the water, diving down to catch their meals with precision. This hunting behavior is critical for their survival in the marine environment.

One interesting fact about Mother Carey's chicken is their ability to travel long distances during migration. These birds can cover thousands of miles in search of food and suitable breeding grounds. They are known for their endurance and resilience in the face of harsh ocean conditions.

Behavior and Reproduction

Wilson's storm petrels are social birds, often seen in large flocks as they navigate the open ocean together. They communicate using various calls and vocalizations, establishing their presence and maintaining group cohesion.

During the breeding season, these seabirds form monogamous pairs and build their nests in rocky crevices or burrows along the coastal cliffs. The female will lay a single egg, which both parents take turns incubating until it hatches. Once the chick is born, both parents care for and feed the young until it is ready to fledge.

Conservation Status

Despite their widespread distribution, Mother Carey's chicken faces threats from human activities such as pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. Climate change also poses a significant risk to their survival, affecting food availability and nesting sites.

Conservation efforts are underway to protect these seabirds and their habitats, including the establishment of marine protected areas and monitoring programs to track population trends. By raising awareness and implementing sustainable practices, we can help ensure the long-term survival of Wilson's storm petrels in the wild.


Mother Carey's chicken Examples

  1. Mother Carey's chicken is a colloquial name for the Leach's storm petrel.
  2. Legend has it that seeing Mother Carey's chickens at sea is a sign of an impending storm.
  3. The sailors believed Mother Carey's chicken to be a symbol of bad luck.
  4. Mother Carey's chicken is often depicted as a dark and mysterious bird in literature.
  5. In some cultures, Mother Carey's chicken is seen as a protector of sailors at sea.
  6. The appearance of Mother Carey's chicken was said to foretell the fate of a ship's voyage.
  7. Some sailors believed that Mother Carey's chicken was actually a manifestation of the Virgin Mary.
  8. The eerie cry of Mother Carey's chicken was thought to be a warning of danger at sea.
  9. Mother Carey's chicken was often blamed for causing mischief on ships during storms.
  10. Many seafarers believed that seeing Mother Carey's chicken on a voyage would bring bad luck.


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  • Updated 14/06/2024 - 21:22:45