Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Seabirds & Tubenoses

White-headed Petrel

Pterodroma lessonii

White-headed Petrel (Pterodroma lessonii) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Australia Birds of New Zealand Birds of South Africa Birds of New South Wales Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

By family

Petrels & Shearwaters of Argentina Petrels & Shearwaters of Australia Petrels & Shearwaters of New Zealand Petrels & Shearwaters of South Africa Petrels & Shearwaters of New South Wales Petrels & Shearwaters of Queensland Petrels & Shearwaters of South Australia Petrels & Shearwaters of Tasmania Petrels & Shearwaters of Victoria Petrels & Shearwaters of Western Australia

See what's near you right now

The White-headed Petrel (Pterodroma lessonii) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 698 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
Genus Pterodroma
Species lessonii

Where it lives

Subantarctic islands of South Indian and South Pacific oceans, from Crozet (southwestern Indian Ocean) to Antipodes (southeast of Stewart I.) and Auckland is. (south of South I.; New Zealand)

Oceans & Seabirds

Quick facts

Weight: 698 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Procellariidae
Order: Procellariiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Endangered

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The White-headed 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 White-headed Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The White-headed Petrel (Pterodroma lessonii) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO subantarctic islands of South Indian and South Pacific oceans, from Crozet (sw Indian Ocean) to Antipodes (se of Stewart I.) and Auckland is. (s of South I.; New Zealand).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 698 g, with a wing length of about 30.4 cm and a tail of around 12.3 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 75 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

White-headed Petrel — Alarm call

Recorded by Kevin Guille Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the White-headed Petrel?

The White-headed Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 698 g.

Where does the White-headed Petrel live?

The White-headed Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO subantarctic islands of South Indian and South Pacific oceans, from Crozet (sw Indian Ocean) to Antipodes (se of Stewart I.) and Auckland is. (s of South I.; New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the White-headed Petrel belong to?

The White-headed Petrel (Pterodroma lessonii) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.

What does the White-headed Petrel eat?

The White-headed Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the White-headed Petrel migrate?

The White-headed Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the White-headed 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.

What sound does the White-headed Petrel make?

1 real field recording of the White-headed Petrel — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the White-headed Petrel's range?

The White-headed Petrel has a mapped global range of about 75 million km².