Blue Petrel
Halobaena caerulea
Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea) — 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 Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 202 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 Halobaena
- Species caerulea
Where it lives
Islands of subantarctic Atlantic and Indian oceans mostly south of Antarctic Convergence from Diego Ramirez (south of Tierra del Fuego) and Cape Horn (southern South America) to Macquarie (far southeast of Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 202 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue 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 Blue Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO islands of subantarctic Atlantic and Indian oceans mostly s of Antarctic Convergence from Diego Ramirez (s of Tierra del Fuego) and Cape Horn (s South America) to Macquarie (far se of Australia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 202 g, with a wing length of about 20.6 cm and a tail of around 7.7 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 75.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue Petrel?
The Blue Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 202 g.
Where does the Blue Petrel live?
The Blue Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO islands of subantarctic Atlantic and Indian oceans mostly s of Antarctic Convergence from Diego Ramirez (s of Tierra del Fuego) and Cape Horn (s South America) to Macquarie (far se of Australia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Blue Petrel belong to?
The Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Blue Petrel eat?
The Blue Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Blue Petrel migrate?
The Blue Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Blue 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 Blue Petrel make?
1 real field recording of the Blue 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 Blue Petrel's range?
The Blue Petrel has a mapped global range of about 75.7 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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