Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Diving Petrel
Pelecanoides urinatrix
Common Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 152 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 Pelecanoides
- Species urinatrix
Where it lives
Islands of subtropical to subantarctic Atlantic, Indian and southwestern Pacific
Quick facts
- Weight
- 152 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Diving Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Common Diving Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Common Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO islands of subtropical to subantarctic Atlantic, Indian and sw Pacific.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 152 g, with a wing length of about 12.2 cm and a tail of around 3.9 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 21.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Diving Petrel?
The Common Diving Petrel is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 152 g.
Where does the Common Diving Petrel live?
The Common Diving Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO islands of subtropical to subantarctic Atlantic, Indian and sw Pacific, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Diving Petrel belong to?
The Common Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Common Diving Petrel eat?
The Common Diving Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Common Diving Petrel migrate?
The Common Diving Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Common Diving 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 Common Diving Petrel make?
1 real field recording of the Common Diving Petrel — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Diving Petrel's range?
The Common Diving Petrel has a mapped global range of about 21.7 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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