Bird guideKerguelen Petrel

Small- and stout-bodied overall, but with a large, “puffy”-looking head.

⚠️Not listed
🍃Indigenous: Short-Billed Petrel, Little Black Petrel

At a glance

FamilyShearwaters and Petrels
SizeMedium
RarityUncommon
HabitatA single egg is laid per breeding season; the egg is unusually round for the family.
Best timeMost reliable in Tasmania from October to November.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by Hichem MACHOUK

Range map

Range map

20visible hotspots
25visible 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

Overview

Note underwing patterning, with a pale “shoulder” separated from pale-based primaries by a broad, diffuse dark bar. Flies quickly and strongly, often arcing up to impressive heights above the waves on angled, sharply kinked wings. Can be difficult to distinguish from other dark medium-sized petrels at a distance, but note pale patches under the wings, overall gray body coloration, relatively large “cute” head, and flight style. Often forages at night.

Behavior

Nests in loose colonies on the Prince Edward, Crozet, and Kerguelen Islands, as well as Gough Island.

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