Spectacled Petrel
NameSpectacled Petrel
Common NameSpectacled Petrel
Scientific NameProcellaria conspicillata
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)111
Length (cm)55
Weight (g)1150
Plumage DetailsEntirely sooty-brown to blackish plumage, with prominent white markings around the eyes that extend over the forehead, forming a 'spectacle' pattern. The bill is pale yellowish-horn with a dark tip.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include harsh, cackling, and guttural calls, often given at night during the breeding season, described as 'kuk-kuk-kuk-kroo-kroo' or 'ka-ka-ka-ka-karr-karr'.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds exclusively on Inaccessible Island in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean. Forages widely across the South Atlantic, particularly off the coasts of Brazil and southern Africa.
Identifying FeaturesWhite 'spectacles' around eyes, Dark body plumage, Large pale bill with dark tip, Pelagic behavior
Description
A large, dark petrel characterized by distinctive white markings around its eyes, giving it a 'spectacled' appearance. This pelagic seabird spends most of its life at sea, coming to land only to breed on remote oceanic islands.
