Editing Procellariiformes (section)

====Pair bonds and life history====
[[File:Kerguelen - Diomedea exulans - wooing.jpg|thumb|alt= Three massive birds stand on low grasslands, the closest bird has its long wings outstretched and its head pointing upward|left|[[Wandering albatross]]es performing their mating dances on the [[Kerguelen Islands]]]]
Procellariiforms are [[monogamy in animals|monogamous]] breeders and form long-term pair bonds. These pair bonds take several years to develop in some species, particularly with the albatrosses. Once formed, they last for many breeding seasons, in some cases for the life of the pair. Petrel courtship can be elaborate. It reaches its extreme with the albatrosses, where pairs spend many years perfecting and elaborating mating dances.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1163/156853981X00257 |last1=Jouventin |first1=P. |last2=de Monicault |first2=G. |last3=Blosseville |first3=J.M. |year=1981 |title=La danse de l'albatros, ''Phoebetria fusca'' |journal=Behaviour |volume=78 |issue=1–2 |pages=43–80 |language=fr}}</ref> 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).<ref name=j7/> Each particular pair will develop their own individual version of the dance. The breeding behaviour of other procellariiforms is less elaborate, although similar bonding behaviours are involved, particularly for surface-nesting species. These can involve synchronised flights, mutual preening and [[Birdsong|calling]]. Calls are important for helping birds locate potential mates and distinguishing between species, and may also help individuals assess the quality of potential mates.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1080/08927014.1994.9522988 |last1=Genevois |first1=F. |last2=Bretagnolle |first2=V. |year=1994 |title=Male Blue Petrels reveal their body mass when calling |journal=Ethology Ecology & Evolution |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=377–383|bibcode=1994EtEcE...6..377G }}</ref> After pairs have been formed, calls serve to help them reunite; the ability of individuals to recognise their own mate has been demonstrated in several species.<ref>{{cite thesis |url= https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/concern/dissertations/cc08hg50x |title=Acoustic communication in colonial seabirds: individual, sexual, and species-specific variation in acoustic signals of Pterodroma petrels |publisher=University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |degree=PhD |year=2008 |author=McKown, Matthew W. |pages=90–91 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref>

Procellariiforms are [[k-selection|K-selected]], being long-lived and caring extensively for their few offspring. Breeding is delayed for several years after [[fledge|fledging]], sometimes for as long as ten years in the largest species. Once they begin breeding, they make only a single breeding attempt per nesting season; even if the egg is lost early in the season, they seldom re-lay. Much effort is placed into laying a single (proportionally) large [[egg (biology)|egg]] and raising a single chick. Procellariiforms are long-lived: the longest living albatross known survived for 51 years, but was probably older,<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1071/MU9930269 |last1=Robertson |first1=C.J.R. |year=1993 |title=Survival and longevity of the Northern Royal Albatross ''Diomedea epomophora sanfordi'' at Taiaroa Head" 1937–93 |journal=Emu |volume=93 |issue=4 |pages=269–276|bibcode=1993EmuAO..93..269R }}</ref> and even the tiny storm-petrels are known to have survived for 30 years.<ref>Klimkiewicz, M. K. 2007. [http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/longvrec.htm Longevity Records of North American Birds] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519022957/http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/longvrec.htm |date=2011-05-19 }}. Version 2007.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Bird Banding Laboratory. Laurel MD.</ref> Additionally, the oldest living bird is [[Wisdom (albatross)|Wisdom]], a female Laysan albatross.