Blue Petrel
NameBlue Petrel
Common NameBlue Petrel
Scientific NameHalobaena caerulea
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)66.5
Length (cm)29
Weight (g)200
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are blue-grey with a distinctive dark 'M' pattern across the wings. Underparts are white. It has a dark cap, a white forehead, and a white supercilium. The tail is short and white with a dark tip.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations at breeding colonies include soft cooing and purring sounds, often heard at night. They may also produce harsh croaks or growls when disturbed.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds on subantarctic islands in the Southern Ocean, including Kerguelen, Crozet, Macquarie, and Prince Edward Islands. Disperses widely across the Southern Ocean during the non-breeding season.
Identifying Featuresblue-grey upperparts, dark 'M' pattern on wings, white underparts, dark cap with white forehead, short white tail with dark tip, small black bill
Description
The Blue Petrel is a small, pelagic seabird characterized by its blue-grey upperparts and white underparts. It spends most of its life at sea, feeding on marine organisms, and only comes to land to breed in burrows on subantarctic islands.
