MacGillivray's Prion
NameMacGillivray's Prion
Common NameMacGillivray's Prion
Scientific NamePachyptila macgillivrayi
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)62
Length (cm)26.5
Weight (g)165
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are pale blue-grey with a prominent dark 'M' pattern extending across the wings and back. Underparts are pure white. It has a dark eye-stripe and a short, dark band at the tip of its tail. The bill is stout and blue-grey.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea. At breeding colonies, it produces soft cooing, purring, or whirring calls.
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds exclusively on Gough Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Disperses widely across the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans during the non-breeding season.
Identifying FeaturesDistinctive dark 'M' pattern across wings and back, Pale blue-grey upperparts and white underparts, Stout, blue-grey bill, Dark eye-stripe, Pelagic behavior
Description
MacGillivray's Prion is a small, pelagic seabird characterized by its pale blue-grey and white plumage and a distinctive dark 'M' pattern across its wings and back. It possesses a robust bill adapted for filter-feeding on zooplankton. These birds spend most of their lives at sea, only returning to remote oceanic islands for breeding.
