Photo: Mjobling / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-chinned Petrel
Procellaria aequinoctialis
White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. 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 Procellaria
- Species aequinoctialis
Where it lives
Islets of southern temperate and subantarctic oceans north of Antarctic Convergence from Falkland Is. to southern outlying islands of New Zealand
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-chinned Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The White-chinned Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO islets of s temperate and subantarctic oceans n of Antarctic Convergence from Falkland Is. to s outlying islands of New Zealand.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 38.3 cm and a tail of around 12 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 107.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-chinned Petrel?
The White-chinned Petrel is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the White-chinned Petrel live?
The White-chinned Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO islets of s temperate and subantarctic oceans n of Antarctic Convergence from Falkland Is. to s outlying islands of New Zealand, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-chinned Petrel belong to?
The White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the White-chinned Petrel eat?
The White-chinned Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-chinned Petrel migrate?
The White-chinned Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-chinned 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 White-chinned Petrel make?
1 real field recording of the White-chinned 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 White-chinned Petrel's range?
The White-chinned Petrel has a mapped global range of about 107.3 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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