Antarctica (B), Argentina (B), Atlantic (Antarctic) (B) (NB), Australia (B), Bouvet Island (E) (B), Brazil (NB), Chile (B), Eastern Indian Ocean (NB), Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (B), French Southern Territories (B), Heard Island and McDonald Islands (B), Indian Ocean (Antarctic) (B) (NB), Madagascar (NB), Mozambique (NB), Namibia (NB), New Zealand (NB), Norfolk Island (NB), Pacific (Antarctic) (NB), Peru, South Africa (B), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (B), Southeast Atlantic (B) (NB), Southeast Pacific (B) (NB), Southwest Atlantic (B) (NB), Southwest Pacific (B) (NB), St Helena (B), Uruguay (NB), Western Central Pacific (NB), Western Indian Ocean (NB).
Breeds in Antarctica and at various sub-Antarctic islands, including Macquarie and Heard islands. Common in Australian sea, north to Fremantle, WA in the west and Sydney, NSW in the east. Progressively less common further north.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 97,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) [XC89727]
by id from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds mostly on coasts of Antarctica and sub-Antarctic Islands, including Macquarie Island (October - November).
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Nest
A hollow, cone-shaped structure, composed of earth and guano, on the ground. In small colonies often in exposed, windy, sites.
Eggs (Guide)
1; chalky white; ellipsoidal; about 104 x 66 mm. Incubation: about 60 days; by both sexes. Usually no replacement laying. Two eggs indicate two females have contributed to the clutch.
Young
Fledge in 105 - 108 days.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Northern Giant-Petrel (Macronectes halli), is similar to the dark morph and the juvenile, with a slightly different bill color, immature Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca), which has a darker bill and immature Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans), which has white underwing.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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