Great Shearwater vs Northern Giant Petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Macronectes halli
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Northern Giant Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Macronectes halli |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 99.6 cm (39.2 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 4362.5 g (153.88 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Northern Giant 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.
Northern Giant Petrel
80–95 cm, wingspan 150–200 cm. Resembles Southern Giant Petrel but bill tip is reddish-brown; lacks white morph. Breeds subantarctic islands (South Georgia, Macquarie, Auckland). Ranges north into subtropics; scavenges offal and carrion at sea. Near Threatened due to longline bycatch.