Great Shearwater vs Broad-billed Prion
Ardenna gravis compared with Pachyptila vittata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Broad-billed Prion |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Pachyptila vittata |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 39.0 cm (15.4 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 187.0 g (6.60 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Broad-billed Prion
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.
Broad-billed Prion
25–30 cm, wingspan 57–66 cm. Largest prion; pale blue-grey above, white below with dark M-mark across wings. Bill broad, blue with lamellae for filter-feeding on copepods. Breeds Tristan da Cunha and New Zealand subantarctic. Feeds by hydroplaning with bill submerged.