Bird · GBIF taxon 2481513
Antarctic Petrel
Thalassoica antarcticaAntarctic petrels are striking seabirds with chocolate-brown upperparts and contrasting bright white undersides and wing bars. They nest in massive colonies on ice-free cliffs along the Antarctic coastline and inland nunataks, sometimes traveling hundreds of kilometers inland to breed. Flying low over freezing waters, these pelagic birds spend most of their lives at sea navigating icy gales and pack ice.
SeabirdPelagicAntarctic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Antarctic Krill
- Fish
- Small Squid
Predators
- South Polar Skua
- Leopard Seal
ThreatsClimate change, shifting sea ice dynamics, ocean warming
HabitatsOpen ocean, pack ice, Antarctic coastal cliffs, nunataks
Life span15–25 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyProcellariidae
- SpeciesThalassoica antarctica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by a dark brown head, white underparts, and broad white wing bands.
- Support conservation
- Observe breeding cliffs from a distance using binoculars to avoid distressing parent birds.
Responsible observation
- Pelagic Observation: Use binoculars from expedition vessels to spot their contrasting brown-and-white wing markings.
- Colony Etiquette: Maintain a wide berth around nesting sites on rocky cliffs to avoid causing panic in breeding pairs.
Prey (c) Krill666.jpg, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Kimberley Collins, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kimberley Collins · cc-by
Close Relative This illustration was made by Samuel Blanc. If you plan on using it, an email to samuel @ sblanc.com would be greatly appreciated. / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Wikimedia Commons, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Julien Renoult, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Julien Renoult · cc-by
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