[order] PROCELLARIIFORMES | [family] Procellariidae | [latin] Pterodroma macroptera | [authority] Smith, 1840 | [UK] Great-winged Petrel | [FR] Petrel noir | [DE] Langflugel-Sturmvogel | [ES] Petrel Aligrande | [NL] Langvleugelstormvogel
Monotypic species
Genus
Genus Pterodroma, Pseudobulweria and Aphrodroma are also knwon as the Gadfly Petrels. They vary in size from rather small birds such as the Cookilaria-species, measuring about 26 cm, to the much larger and robust representatives of this group like the White-headed Petrel with an overall length of about 43 cm. Their plumages also vary a great deal from species to species; from completely black to light grey mantles and pure white bellies, and with different color phases within species. One feature shared by all of them is the black bill of which the shape also shows much variation. Some species are extremely rare and restricted to a very limited area, other are abundant and wander widely or have unknown pelagic ranges.
The group of the Gadfly Petrels counts over 35 species, mainly from the Southern Hemisphere. There are three genera: Pterodroma with about 30 species, Pseudobulweria counting four and Aphrodroma with only one. Many authors have tried to classify the large number of species of this group and to determine their relationships. This has resulted in a division in several subgenera and the grouping of several species which are considered to have a more or less close relationship. The taxonomic discussion has not come to an end yet: new species have been added or split recently and probably will be in the near future.
The bird is completely dark brown except for a variable patch of white near the base of the bill, which is black.
Listen to the sound of Great-winged Petrel
[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PROCELLARIIFORMES/Procellariidae/sounds/Great-winged Petrel.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
recorded by David Bradley
| wingspan min.: |
96 |
cm |
wingspan max.: |
98 |
cm |
| size min.: |
40 |
cm |
size max.: |
42 |
cm |
| incubation min.: |
53 |
days |
incubation max.: |
55 |
days |
| fledging min.: |
108 |
days |
fledging max.: |
128 |
days |
| broods: |
1 |
|
eggs min.: |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
eggs max.: |
1 |
|
Southern Ocean : widespread. The Great-winged Petrel breeds in the Southern Hemisphere between 30 and 50 degrees south with colonies on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island (St Helena to UK), the Crozet Islands and Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories) the Prince Edward Islands (South Africa), and on the coasts of southern Australia and northern New Zealand. Outside the breeding season it dispereses widely in subtropical parts of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, mainly between 25 and 50 degrees south, though some birds will stray into the Antarctic zone
marine and highly pelagic. Breeds on remote islands on slopes, ridges or flat ground. Brreds up to 400m, also nesting occurs between tree roots or under scrub
The species is essentially pelagic and highly adapted for living out of contact with land. Food is likely to consist of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, often as plankton, but there is very little specific information available on diet and feeding behaviour. The birds can often be seen from the shore by day, flying and sometimes feeding.
The species is essentially pelagic and highly adapted for living out of contact with land. Food is likely to consist of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, often as plankton, but there is very little specific information available on diet and feeding behaviour. The birds can often be seen from the shore by day, flying and sometimes feeding.
Video Great-winged Petrel
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df0qfZ_-ghY
copyright: Josep del Hoyo
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Disperses widely in subtropical parts of Atlantic, Indian and W Pacific Oceans, mainly 25?-50? S; some birds near breeding islands all year round. Occasionally strays into subantarctic and Antarctic zones.
