Photo: SEOR / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Endangered

Seabirds & Tubenoses

Barau’s Petrel

Pterodroma baraui

Barau's Petrel (Pterodroma baraui) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of India Birds of South Africa Birds of New South Wales Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

By family

Petrels & Shearwaters of Australia Petrels & Shearwaters of India Petrels & Shearwaters of South Africa Petrels & Shearwaters of New South Wales Petrels & Shearwaters of Victoria Petrels & Shearwaters of Western Australia

See what's near you right now

The Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 400 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

EN Endangered

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

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

Where it lives

Montane Réunion (western Mascarenes, southwestern Indian Ocean)

Oceans & Seabirds

Quick facts

Weight: 400 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Procellariidae
Order: Procellariiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Endangered

Biology & behaviour

Diet

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

The Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui) belongs to the Procellariidae family of the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO montane Réunion (w Mascarenes, sw Indian Ocean).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 400 g, with a wing length of about 26.9 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 26.3 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Barau’s Petrel — Call, stress call

Recorded by Daniel Danckwerts Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Barau’s Petrel?

The Barau’s Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 400 g.

Where does the Barau’s Petrel live?

The Barau’s Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO montane Réunion (w Mascarenes, sw Indian Ocean), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Barau’s Petrel belong to?

The Barau’s Petrel (Pterodroma baraui) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.

What does the Barau’s Petrel eat?

The Barau’s Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Barau’s Petrel migrate?

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

Is the Barau’s Petrel endangered?

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

What sound does the Barau’s Petrel make?

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

How large is the Barau’s Petrel's range?

The Barau’s Petrel has a mapped global range of about 26.3 million km².