Photo: ZooPro at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Soft-plumaged Petrel
Pterodroma mollis
Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
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The Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 312 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 mollis
Where it lives
Subtropical to subantarctic islands of South Indian and South Atlantic oceans, from Tristan da Cunha and Gough (south-central Atlantic) to Maatsuyker I. (south of Tasmania), Macquarie (far southeast of Australia) and Antipodes (southeast of Stewart I., New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 312 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Soft-plumaged 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 Soft-plumaged Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis) is a species of petrels, shearwaters, diving petrels in the family Procellariidae, order Procellariiformes. It is found in Oceans & Seabirds — subtropical to subantarctic islands of South Indian and South Atlantic oceans, from Tristan da Cunha and Gough (sc Atlantic) to Maatsuyker I. (s of Tasmania), Macquarie (far se of Australia) and Antipodes (se of Stewart I., New Zealand).
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Soft-plumaged Petrel?
The Soft-plumaged Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 312 g.
Where does the Soft-plumaged Petrel live?
The Soft-plumaged Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO subtropical to subantarctic islands of South Indian and South Atlantic oceans, from Tristan da Cunha and Gough (sc Atlantic) to Maatsuyker I. (s of Tasmania), Macquarie (far se of Australia) and Antipodes (se of Stewart I., New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Soft-plumaged Petrel belong to?
The Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Soft-plumaged Petrel eat?
The Soft-plumaged Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Soft-plumaged Petrel migrate?
The Soft-plumaged Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Soft-plumaged 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 Soft-plumaged Petrel make?
1 real field recording of the Soft-plumaged 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 Soft-plumaged Petrel's range?
The Soft-plumaged Petrel has a mapped global range of about 52.2 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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