Photo: C00ch at English Wikipedia / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mottled Petrel
Pterodroma inexpectata
Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
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The Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 316 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
- Genus Pterodroma
- Species inexpectata
Where it lives
Islets off Fiordland and in Lake Hauroko (southwestern South I.), in Foveaux Strait and around Stewart is., and Snares Is. (south of South I.; New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 316 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mottled Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Mottled Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO, IO islets off Fiordland and in Lake Hauroko (sw South I.), in Foveaux Strait and around Stewart is., and Snares Is. (s of South I.; New Zealand).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 316 g, with a wing length of about 25 cm and a tail of around 9.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 119.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mottled Petrel?
The Mottled Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 316 g.
Where does the Mottled Petrel live?
The Mottled Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO, IO islets off Fiordland and in Lake Hauroko (sw South I.), in Foveaux Strait and around Stewart is., and Snares Is. (s of South I.; New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Mottled Petrel belong to?
The Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Mottled Petrel eat?
The Mottled Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Mottled Petrel migrate?
The Mottled Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Mottled Petrel endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
How large is the Mottled Petrel's range?
The Mottled Petrel has a mapped global range of about 119.6 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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