Photo: Christopher Watson / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Gould’s Petrel
Pterodroma leucoptera
Gould's Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 147 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
- Genus Pterodroma
- Species leucoptera
Where it lives
Cabbage Tree, Boondelbah, Broughton and Little Broughton, and Montague is. (just off southeastern Australia) and montane Grande Terre (New Caledonia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 147 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gould’s 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 Gould’s Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Cabbage Tree, Boondelbah, Broughton and Little Broughton, and Montague is. (just off se Australia) and montane Grande Terre (New Caledonia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 147 g, with a wing length of about 21.2 cm and a tail of around 9 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 122 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gould’s Petrel?
The Gould’s Petrel is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 147 g.
Where does the Gould’s Petrel live?
The Gould’s Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Cabbage Tree, Boondelbah, Broughton and Little Broughton, and Montague is. (just off se Australia) and montane Grande Terre (New Caledonia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Gould’s Petrel belong to?
The Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Gould’s Petrel eat?
The Gould’s Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Gould’s Petrel migrate?
The Gould’s Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Gould’s Petrel endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Gould’s Petrel make?
1 real field recording of the Gould’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 Gould’s Petrel's range?
The Gould’s Petrel has a mapped global range of about 122 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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