Fairy Prion
NameFairy Prion
Common NameFairy Prion
Scientific NamePachyptila turtur
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)46
Length (cm)25.5
Weight (g)135
Plumage DetailsPale blue-grey upperparts with a faint dark 'M' pattern across the wings, and white underparts. It has a small, dark cap and dark primary tips.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include cooing, purring, and chattering sounds, particularly at their breeding colonies during the night.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds on islands off New Zealand and southeastern Australia, dispersing widely across the Southern Ocean.
Identifying Featuressmall size, blue-grey plumage, short stout bill, buoyant flight, faint 'M' pattern on wings
Description
A small, pale blue-grey seabird, the Fairy Prion is characterized by its buoyant flight over the open ocean. It has a short, stout bill adapted for filter-feeding on zooplankton. They are colonial breeders on remote oceanic islands.
