Photo: Plate: John Gerrard Keulemans, 1842--1912 / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Herald Petrel
Pterodroma heraldica
Herald Petrel (Pterodroma heraldica) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Herald Petrel (Pterodroma heraldica) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 394 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 Pterodroma
- Species heraldica
Where it lives
Round I. (northeast of Mauritius, central Mascarenes, southwestern Indian Ocean); Raine I. (few; northeastern Australia), Chesterfield Reefs (New Caledonia), Tonga and Samoa (central Polynesia) to southern Cook, Austral, Marquesas, Tuamotu and Pitcairn groups and Rapa Nui (Easter=Eastern Is. group, southeastern Polynesia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 394 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Herald 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 Herald Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Herald Petrel (Pterodroma heraldica) is a species of petrels, shearwaters, diving petrels in the family Procellariidae, order Procellariiformes. It is found in Oceans & Seabirds — Round I. (ne of Mauritius, c Mascarenes, sw Indian Ocean); Raine I. (few; ne Australia), Chesterfield Reefs (New Caledonia), Tonga and Samoa (c Polynesia) to s Cook, Austral, Marquesas, Tuamotu and Pitcairn groups and Rapa Nui (Easter=Eastern Is. group, se Polynesia).
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Herald Petrel?
The Herald Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 394 g.
Where does the Herald Petrel live?
The Herald Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO, PO Round I. (ne of Mauritius, c Mascarenes, sw Indian Ocean); Raine I. (few; ne Australia), Chesterfield Reefs (New Caledonia), Tonga and Samoa (c Polynesia) to s Cook, Austral, Marquesas, Tuamotu and Pitcairn groups and Rapa Nui (Easter=Eastern Is. group, se Polynesia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Herald Petrel belong to?
The Herald Petrel (Pterodroma heraldica) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Herald Petrel eat?
The Herald Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Herald Petrel migrate?
The Herald Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Herald 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.
How large is the Herald Petrel's range?
The Herald Petrel has a mapped global range of about 50.7 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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