The largest of the six prion species, with an exceptionally wide bill that gives the head a chunky appearance.
Not listed
Indigenous: Long-Billed Prion, Blue Dove Petrel, Ice-Bird, Whale-Bird, Broad-Billed Dove Petrel, Dove Petrel
At a glance
FamilyShearwaters and Petrels
SizeMedium
RarityRare
HabitatThis species is found throughout oceans and coastal areas in the Southern Hemisphere .
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from June to July.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Jenna Hoverd/David Boyle
Range map
Range map
14visible hotspots
20visible records
3states
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
Behavior
Occurs in dispersed flocks at sea, where it catches prey items either sitting on the water or skimming the surface for zooplankton.
Gallery
Regional timing
Victoria
New South Wales
Tasmania
Queensland
Western Australia
Commonly confused with
Mottled PetrelPterodroma inexpectataSlightly larger and heavier-bodied than Black-winged, Bonin, and Cook’s Petrels.→Blue PetrelHalobaena caeruleaSometimes accompanies ships, especially near breeding islands and with groups of similar-sized and superficially similar prions. Blue Petrel told from all prion species by dark cap, half collar, and bold white tail tip. Also note differences in flight pattern; often a bit stronger and banks higher in strong winds.→Pintado PetrelDaption capenseA “professional” ship follower in the Southern Ocean, often in groups that circle a vessel for hours. Extent of white spotting on upperparts rather variable, but no other petrel has this white-spattered or “painted” pattern; pintado means painted in Spanish and is also an anagram of the genus name, Daption.→