Photo: Brocken Inaglory / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Seabirds & Tubenoses

Southern Giant Petrel

Macronectes giganteus

Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Australia Birds of Brazil Birds of New Zealand Birds of Peru Birds of South Africa Birds of New South Wales Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania

By family

Petrels & Shearwaters of Argentina Petrels & Shearwaters of Australia Petrels & Shearwaters of Brazil Petrels & Shearwaters of New Zealand Petrels & Shearwaters of Peru Petrels & Shearwaters of South Africa Petrels & Shearwaters of New South Wales Petrels & Shearwaters of Queensland Petrels & Shearwaters of South Australia Petrels & Shearwaters of Tasmania

See what's near you right now

The Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Antarctica and Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 3.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
Genus Macronectes
Species giganteus

Where it lives

Is. and coasts of southern Chile and Argentina and Antarctica to Heard (south-central Indian Ocean) and Macquarie is. (far southeast of Australia)

Quick facts

Weight: 3.6 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Procellariidae
Order: Procellariiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Northern Giant Petrel

Macronectes halli

Vulnerable

White-chinned Petrel

Procellaria aequinoctialis

Least Concern

Cory’s Shearwater

Calonectris borealis

Endangered

Westland Petrel

Procellaria westlandica

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Southern Giant Petrel is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Southern Giant Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) is a species of bird in the Procellariidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Antarctica and Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO, AN is. and coasts of s Chile and Argentina and Antarctica to Heard (sc Indian Ocean) and Macquarie is. (far se of Australia).

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.6 kg, with a wing length of about 49.4 cm and a tail of around 17.8 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 100.2 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Southern Giant Petrel — Call

Recorded by Andrew Spencer Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 2.5

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Southern Giant Petrel?

The Southern Giant Petrel is a very large bird that weighs around 3.6 kg.

Where does the Southern Giant Petrel live?

The Southern Giant Petrel is found across Antarctica and Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO, AN is. and coasts of s Chile and Argentina and Antarctica to Heard (sc Indian Ocean) and Macquarie is. (far se of Australia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Southern Giant Petrel belong to?

The Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.

What does the Southern Giant Petrel eat?

The Southern Giant Petrel is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Southern Giant Petrel migrate?

The Southern Giant Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Southern Giant 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 Southern Giant Petrel make?

1 real field recording of the Southern Giant 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 Southern Giant Petrel's range?

The Southern Giant Petrel has a mapped global range of about 100.2 million km².