Procellaria cinerea
The Grey Petrel, *Procellaria cinerea*, is a magnificent medium-large seabird of the southern oceans, epitomizing the pelagic lifestyle with its graceful flight over vast expanses. Measuring approximately 46 cm (18 inches) in length with a wingspan of 109-122 cm (43-48 inches) and weighing 800-1100g, its plumage is subtly beautiful: an ash-grey back and wings, a distinctly darker cap that contrasts with a bright white belly and underparts. Key identification marks include this dark cap, unifo...
This is a strictly pelagic species, inhabiting the open ocean, only coming ashore to breed on remote, vegetated subantarctic islands, often on steep slopes or cliffs.
Grey Petrels primarily feed on cephalopods (squid), crustaceans (especially krill), and small fish, often scavenging offal from fishing vessels and employing surface-seizing or deep-diving foraging methods.
Grey Petrels exhibit a fascinating dichotomy in their daily activity: they are intensely nocturnal when on their breeding colonies, primarily to evade predation by skuas and introduced mammals, but diurnal when foraging at sea. Their foraging strategy involves both surface-seizing and impressive ...
The Grey Petrel is a pelagic species with a circumpolar breeding distribution on remote subantarctic islands of the Southern Hemisphere. Its primary breeding grounds include Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, and Macquarie Island in the Indian Ocean sector, and Auckland, Ca...
Near Threatened
- The Grey Petrel is one of the deepest-diving petrel species, with confirmed dives over 50 meters and potentially much deeper. - They are entirely nocturnal on their breeding colonies, a strategy to avoid predators like skuas and introduced cats. - Despite their grey appearance, their bill is a ...