Grey-faced Petrel
NameGrey-faced Petrel
Common NameGrey-faced Petrel
Scientific NamePterodroma macroptera
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)100
Length (cm)42
Weight (g)600
Plumage DetailsOverall sooty brown to dark grey plumage, with a contrasting pale grey face and forehead. The underwing is uniformly dark. The bill is stout and black, with prominent tubular nostrils.
Vocalization / CallAt sea, generally silent. At breeding colonies, they produce a variety of calls, including mournful 'oo-er' or 'ti-ti-ti' sounds, often given at night.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, oceanic
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds primarily on islands off the coast of New Zealand, particularly the North Island and its offshore islands. Disperses widely across the Tasman Sea and into the South Pacific after breeding.
Identifying FeaturesLarge, dark petrel, Pale grey face and forehead, Robust black bill with tubular nostrils, Uniformly dark underwings, Long, narrow wings for oceanic soaring
Description
The Grey-faced Petrel is a large, dark petrel with a distinctive pale grey face and a robust black bill. It is a highly pelagic seabird, spending most of its life at sea, only returning to land to breed in burrows.
