Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Great-winged Petrel
Pterodroma macroptera
Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 532 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
- Genus Pterodroma
- Species macroptera
Where it lives
Subtropical to temperate is. from Tristan da Cunha and Gough (south-central Atlantic Ocean) to Kerguelen Is. (southeastern Indian Ocean) and islets off southwestern Australia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 532 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Great-winged Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Great-winged Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) is a species of bird in the Procellariidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO subtropical to temperate is. from Tristan da Cunha and Gough (sc Atlantic Ocean) to Kerguelen Is. (se Indian Ocean) and islets off sw Australia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 532 g, with a wing length of about 30.3 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 47.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Great-winged Petrel?
The Great-winged Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 532 g.
Where does the Great-winged Petrel live?
The Great-winged Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO subtropical to temperate is. from Tristan da Cunha and Gough (sc Atlantic Ocean) to Kerguelen Is. (se Indian Ocean) and islets off sw Australia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Great-winged Petrel belong to?
The Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Great-winged Petrel eat?
The Great-winged Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Great-winged Petrel migrate?
The Great-winged Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Great-winged Petrel endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Great-winged Petrel's range?
The Great-winged Petrel has a mapped global range of about 47.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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