Great Shearwater vs Blue Petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Halobaena caerulea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Blue Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Halobaena caerulea |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 41.2 cm (16.2 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 201.5 g (7.11 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Blue 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.
Blue Petrel
26–32 cm, wingspan 60–71 cm. Blue-grey above with distinctive white-tipped square tail; white below. Resembles prions but tail pattern diagnostic. Breeds subantarctic islands (South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen). Ranges widely in Southern Ocean; feeds on crustaceans and small fish.