Kerguelen Petrel (Aphrodroma brevirostris)

Other Scientific Names
Aphrodroma brevirostris [SACC (2005)], Pterodroma brevirostris [BirdLife International (2004)], Pterodroma brevirostris [Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993)], Pterodroma brevirostris [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)]

Other Names (World)
Kerguelen Petrel, Little Black Petrel, Short-billed Petrel

Family
Procellariidae (Petrels, Shearwaters)

Size
33 - 36 cm
Wingspan: 80 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Lesson, 1831)

Derivation
Lugensa - ?: brev-i-ros'-tris L., brevis, short; L., rostrum, bill

Abundance (Guide)
UC

Uncommon late winter - early spring visitor to coasts of southern Australia.

Habitat
Marine, pelagic, in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters, extending into sub-tropical waters during the winter.

Range (Guide)

Antarctica (NB), Argentina, Australia, Chile, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), French Southern Territories (B), New Zealand, South Africa (B), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Vagrant to Brazil, Uruguay (NB).

Unknown to St Helena (B).

Tristan da Cunha, Gough I; Prince Edward Is, Crozet, Kerguelen Is.

Breeds at various islands in the South Atlantic and the southern Indian Ocean. Rare visitor to the seas off southern Australia.

Rarity Status
View Rarity Status Information

Population
Estimated population is 1,000,000 (2010).

Status LC
Secure.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Fish, squid and other marine life.

Voice
A wheezy, 'chee-chee-chay' call uttered by adults. A high-pitched, screech uttered in alarm. Calls uttered over breeding colonies soon after dark or from nest.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (5)...)

Kerguelen Petrel (Aphrodroma brevirostris) [XC623800]
by id from Ile Haute, France (call)

Kerguelen Petrel (Aphrodroma brevirostris) [XC622681]
by Hichem MACHOUK from Ile Haute, France (?)

Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds on Iles Crozet and Marion Island (September - March).

Nest
A chamber at the end of a burrow, lined with leaves.

Eggs (Guide)
1; white; oval; about 57 - 59 x 45 - 46 mm. Incubation: 47 - 51 days; by both sexes.

Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 61 days.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Similar Species
Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) is noticbly larger and blackish-brown, dark morph of Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis) similar in size and tone of plumage but differs markedly in shape, flight and pattern of the underwing.

Compare Images

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

Files:

JPG files for Kerguelen Petrel (Aphrodroma brevirostris) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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