Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea) [XC598473]
by from Troll Station, Norway, Antarctica (call)
Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea) [XC780153]
by id from Zhongshan station, Antarctica, Antarctica (alarm call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds mostly on coasts of Antarctica and southerly sub-Antarctic Islands (October - April).
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Nest
A scrape in the ground, littered with stones, sand, feathers, faeces, and even dead chicks.
Eggs (Guide)
1; smooth, matt, white, often pitted with irregular granular areas; oval to oblong-oval; about 56 x 42 mm. Incubation: 41 - 49 days; by both sexes.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in 41 - 53 days. Fed by both parents.
Subspecies
Subspecies may constitute two separate species, as sympatry without interbreeding reported from eastern Antarctica. Alternative version claims most colonies are mixed, with extensive zone of hybridization. Subspecific distribution confused and some authors prefer to recognize single monotypic species.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
nivea (Forster, 1777) - Breeds on Antarctic continent and Penisula, southern Georgia, islands of Scotia Archepelago.
confusa Mathews, 1912 - Breeds Pointe Geologie Archepelago, Terre Adelie, Balleny Islands, Peterson Islands, Ardery Island, Proclamation Island, southern Sandwich Islands, Cape Hallett and Cape Hunter.
major (Schlegel, 1863) - Breeds on islands in the Ross Sea region (Balleny Island, Cape Adare, Cape Hallet, and possibly Scott Island); intergrades with nominate nivea at many sites, including South Orkney and South Sandwich Islands, Casey, Terre Adélie, Cape Hunter, and Cape Denison. ranges widely in Antarctic waters.
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
BirdLife International Species Factsheet