White-chinned Petrel
NameWhite-chinned Petrel
Common NameWhite-chinned Petrel
Scientific NameProcellaria aequinoctialis
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)140
Length (cm)54
Weight (g)1200
Plumage DetailsEntirely sooty-brown to blackish plumage, often appearing darker on the head and upperparts. The most striking feature is the pale, yellowish-green bill with a black tip. Many individuals also show a variable white patch on the chin and throat, which gives the bird its name.
Vocalization / CallAt sea, they are generally quiet, but at breeding colonies, they produce a variety of harsh, croaking, cackling, and whistling calls, often described as 'kek-kek-kek' or 'kwa-kwa-kwa'.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds on subantarctic islands in the Southern Ocean, including South Georgia, Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, and Campbell Island. Disperses widely across the Southern Ocean during the non-breeding season, ranging north to subtropical waters.
Identifying FeaturesLarge, dark sooty-brown plumage, Distinctive pale, yellowish-green bill with a black tip, Often a white chin patch (variable), Pelagic behavior, often seen following ships
Description
A large, dark petrel of the Southern Ocean, characterized by its sooty-brown plumage and distinctive pale bill. This highly pelagic species spends most of its life at sea, feeding on marine prey, and only comes to land on subantarctic islands to breed.
