Photo: Liam Quinn from Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Antarctic Prion
Pachyptila desolata
Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila desolata) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila desolata) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Antarctica and Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 147 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 Pachyptila
- Species desolata
Where it lives
Islets of subantarctic to Antarctic oceans (mainly south of Antarctic Convergence) from Antarctic Pen. to Scott I. (north of Ross Sea) Macquarie (far southeast of Australia) and Auckland is. (south of South I., New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 147 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Antarctic Prion 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 Antarctic Prion is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila desolata) is a species of petrels, shearwaters, diving petrels in the family Procellariidae, order Procellariiformes. It is found in Oceans & Seabirds, Antarctica — islets of subantarctic to Antarctic oceans (mainly s of Antarctic Convergence) from Antarctic Pen. to Scott I. (n of Ross Sea) Macquarie (far se of Australia) and Auckland is. (s of South I., New Zealand).
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Antarctic Prion?
The Antarctic Prion is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 147 g.
Where does the Antarctic Prion live?
The Antarctic Prion is found across Antarctica and Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO, AN islets of subantarctic to Antarctic oceans (mainly s of Antarctic Convergence) from Antarctic Pen. to Scott I. (n of Ross Sea) Macquarie (far se of Australia) and Auckland is. (s of South I., New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Antarctic Prion belong to?
The Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila desolata) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Antarctic Prion eat?
The Antarctic Prion hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Antarctic Prion migrate?
The Antarctic Prion is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Antarctic Prion 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 Antarctic Prion make?
1 real field recording of the Antarctic Prion can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Antarctic Prion's range?
The Antarctic Prion has a mapped global range of about 84.2 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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