Great-winged Petrel

The great-winged petrel, Pterodroma macroptera, is a large seabird of the Southern Ocean, notable for its impressive wingspan and predominantly dark brown plumage. A distinctive feature is the white patch near the base of its black bill, a characteristic that varies among individuals.

Identification Tips

When observing the great-winged petrel, look for its all-dark underwing, which distinguishes it from the sooty and short-tailed shearwaters. Its thick, stubby bill sets it apart from other species, and its flight pattern is less bounding compared to the larger Procellaria petrels. The flesh-footed shearwater, which has a lighter, pinkish bill, can appear similar but is readily differentiated by these features.

Habitat

This petrel is a denizen of the open ocean, rarely seen from land except during breeding season when it nests on remote islands.

Distribution

Breeding across the Southern Hemisphere between latitudes 30 and 50 degrees south, the great-winged petrel has colonies on Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island, the Crozet Islands, the Prince Edward Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, and along the southern coasts of Australia. It is an occasional rare vagrant to the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Behaviour

The great-winged petrel is a nocturnal feeder, often seen dipping and surface-seizing to catch its prey. It has been known to follow whales and associate with other seabirds during feeding. Breeding takes place in the southern winter, starting in April, with nests located in burrows or above ground among boulders or vegetation, either solitarily or in small colonies.

Diet and Feeding

A diet rich in squid is supplemented by fish and crustaceans for the great-winged petrel. Its feeding strategy involves seizing prey from the ocean's surface at night.

Breeding

The breeding season commences in the southern winter months, with the great-winged petrel establishing nests that are either solitary or part of small colonies. These nests can be found in burrows or nestled among boulders or low vegetation.

Conservation status

The great-winged petrel is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.

Similar Species

The great-winged petrel can be confused with the sooty shearwater, short-tailed shearwater, and flesh-footed shearwater, but its unique bill and underwing pattern, as well as its flight style, aid in its identification. The grey-faced petrel, once considered a subspecies, is now recognized as a separate species and can also be similar in appearance.