Frequent visitor to southern waters all year round but less often in summer.
Habitat
Marine, pelagic, mainly in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters. Migration northward in non-breeding season extending into sub-tropical seas in some areas.
Antarctica (NB), Australia, Chile, French Southern Territories, New Zealand (B), South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Vagrant to Argentina, Brazil, Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
Unknown to Uruguay.
New Zealand region at Macquarie, Auckland, Antipodes Is and possibly Campbell I; southern Indian Ocean at Crozet, Kerguelen and possibly Prince Edward Is.
White-headed Petrel (Pterodroma lessonii) [XC555371]
by \u00c9mile Brisson-Curadeau from Mayes, France (nocturnal flight call, song)
White-headed Petrel (Pterodroma lessonii) [XC555372]
by Hichem MACHOUK from Mayes, France (nocturnal flight call, song)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Present from August - May, but egg-laying is usually November - December.
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Nest
A large chamber at the end of a burrow.
Eggs (Guide)
1; white; rounded-oval; about 75 x 51 mm. Incubation: 60 days; both sexes, in shifts.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 100 days.
Subspecies
Has been considered conspecific with Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera), but timing of breeding cycles quite different. No mixed pairs reported despite extensive sympatry. Atlantic Petrel (Pterodroma incerta) has been considered a sibling species.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Pale morph of Soft-plumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis), which is a little smaller, has a small breast band, and has slightly darker upperparts, underwings has white leading edge near body and underwing primaries are lighter, pale morph of Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta), which is smaller, has brown upperparts and tail, and underwing primaries are lighter, and Grey Petrel (Procellaria cinerea), which is larger and has darker upperparts and head.
Compare Images
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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BirdLife International Species Factsheet