From Opus

Alternative name: Northern Giant Petrel

Photo by derekh42

Macronectes halli

[edit] Identification

Length 81-94cm. Wingspan 180-200cm.
Adult: largely greyish-brown above flecked with black, brown and white, slightly paler below with darker collar below whitish throat. Head white with heavy grey-brown mottling on crown and nape giving a distinct capped effect. Underwing grey-brown with dark leading edge and silvery-grey on bases of secondaries and inner primaries. Iris pale grey, bill horn-coloured with reddish tip ( but beware Antarctic Giant Petrels that have been roosting with the bill buried in the feathers as the bill, particularly the tip, can look reddish ), legs blackish or grey.
Immature: juvenile is darker than adult, largely glossy-black developing white face and capped appearance with age.

Photo by Pluvius
Kaikoura, New Zealand, February 2009

[edit] Similar Species

Closely resembles Southern Giant Petrel M. giganteus which differs in less capped effect of head, whiter breast, white leading edge to wing and horn-coloured bill with greenish tip.

[edit] Notes

Giant Petrels are the size of small albatrosses but distinguished by shorter wings, bulkier bodies and heavier, less graceful flight. However, the two species are very difficult to separate at sea and birds with intermediate characters are known to occur in some areas.

[edit] Distribution

Southern Oceans breeding on Prince Edward, Marion, Crozet, Lerguelen, Macquarie, Chatham, Stewart, Auckland, Antipodes and Campbell Islands.

Disperse widely to reach Australia and South Africa, mainly on the western coast but probably not reaching as far north as Southern Giant Petrel.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Remote islands. Follows ships regularly and attracted to whale carcasses and seal colonies.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

Breeds July-February, nest is a depression surrounded by dry vegetation. Single white egg (102 x 61mm).

[edit] Diet

Scavenges on mammal carcasses and around seabird colonies. Also takes squid and fish from sea surface and kills smaller birds. Squabbles noisily over carrion.

[edit] Vocalisation

Hoarse croaks and grunts but slightly higher-pitched than Southern Giant Petrel. A laughing hu-hu-hu-hu.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.4.xls/view.

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID