On petrels, one of these plates forms the hooked portion of the upper bill.
Not listed
Indigenous: Fulmar, Antarctic Fulmar
At a glance
FamilyShearwaters and Petrels
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatPelagic; mostly offshore and over open ocean, occasionally seen from coastal headlands during passage.
Best timeMost reliable in Tasmania from February.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen
Range map
Range map
3approx hotspots
12865approx records
0states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
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
Essentially unmistakable, but worth comparing with Cape Petrel if seen at great distance. Breeds on rocky slopes and cliff faces, both coastal and inland; one of very few flying birds likely to be seen any distance inland in Antarctica. When not breeding, disperses north, sometimes getting as far as the Falklands.
Behavior
Often seen in huge numbers around foraging cetaceans or fishing vessels.
Gallery
Regional timing
Tasmania
Victoria
Commonly confused with
White-headed PetrelPterodroma lessoniiBack is pale gray with darker outer wings, creating an “M” shape on the back. Look for stout black bill and pinkish-colored feet. Breed on Antipodes and Auckland Islands in the New Zealand region and also on subantarctic Indian Ocean and Macquarie Islands. Three similar species: Soft-plumaged Petrel is smaller with gray-brown head and band on upper breast; Gray Petrel is larger with a smaller, darker head, a pale green bill, and a long neck; and pale morph Kermadec Petrel is smaller, lacks an eye patch, has darker upperparts, and shows white patches under the wing.→Antarctic PrionPachyptila desolataRegular visitor to New Zealand and Southern Australia during the austral winter. Very similar to other prion species, especially Salvin’s prion, with the Antarctic prion having a slightly brighter blue bill with straighter sides and a larger nail at the tip.→Gray PetrelProcellaria cinereaUnderwing is dark and unmarked. Bill is pale yellowish with dark contours. Simple bicolored coloration separates this species from other petrels, and chunky proportions and stubby-billed profile distinguish it from similar-looking shearwaters.→