Great Shearwater vs Cape Petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Daption capense
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Cape Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Daption capense |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 50.0 cm (19.7 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 444.6666666666667 g (15.69 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Cape Petrel
About These Birds
Great Shearwater
43–51 cm, wingspan 105–122 cm. Large; dark brown above with white underparts, dark cap, and distinctive scaly pattern on upperwing. Breeds Tristan da Cunha, Gough, and Falklands; migrates to North Atlantic. Feeds on fish and squid; spectacular post-breeding migration past UK coasts.
Cape Petrel
38–40 cm, wingspan 81–91 cm. Unmistakable chequered black-and-white plumage with two white wing patches. Abundant in the Southern Ocean; breeds on Antarctic and subantarctic cliff ledges. Follows ships avidly; feeds on krill, fish, and offal. One of the most commonly seen Antarctic seabirds.