Photo: ZooPro / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Fairy Prion
Pachyptila turtur
Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) — 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 Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 137 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 turtur
Where it lives
Islets of southern subtropical to subantarctic oceans from Falkland Is. to outlying New Zealand is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 137 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Fairy Prion 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 Fairy Prion is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO islets of s subtropical to subantarctic oceans from Falkland Is. to outlying New Zealand is.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 137 g, with a wing length of about 17.4 cm and a tail of around 8.1 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 21.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fairy Prion?
The Fairy Prion is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 137 g.
Where does the Fairy Prion live?
The Fairy Prion is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO islets of s subtropical to subantarctic oceans from Falkland Is. to outlying New Zealand is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Fairy Prion belong to?
The Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Fairy Prion eat?
The Fairy Prion hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Fairy Prion migrate?
The Fairy Prion is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Fairy 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 Fairy Prion make?
1 real field recording of the Fairy Prion — 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 Fairy Prion's range?
The Fairy Prion has a mapped global range of about 21.3 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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