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Widespread and fairly common; readily seen from shore and ferries in Tierra del Fuego.
Endangered
Indigenous: Vulture of the Seas, Mollymawk, Mother Carey's Sea Goose, Mother Carey's Goose, Giant Fulmar, Stinker, Sea Goose, Stinkpot, Nelly, Bone-Shaker, Glutton
At a glance
FamilyShearwaters and Petrels
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in Tasmania from December.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Andrew Spencer
Range map
Range map
312visible hotspots
1604visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Giant-Petrels are known as vultures of the Southern Ocean and can scavenge with gulls at sewage outflows or with albatrosses at fishing boats; often follows ships. Very large (size of smaller albatross) with a very big pale bill that always has a diagnostic pale greenish tip. Plumage varies; most birds are dark overall or with whitish head, rarely whitish head and underparts; scarce white morph is snow-white overall with scattered black feathers.
Behavior
Widespread and fairly common; readily seen from shore and ferries in Tierra del Fuego.
Gallery