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Striking brown-and-white petrel of Antarctica and its adjacent seas and islands.
Not listed
Indigenous: Fulmar, Antarctic Fulmar
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 February.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen
Range map
Range map
1visible hotspots
1visible records
1states
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
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