Great Shearwater vs Common Diving-petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Pelecanoides urinatrix
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Common Diving-petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Pelecanoides urinatrix |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 24.3 cm (9.6 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 135.5 g (4.78 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Common Diving-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.
Common Diving-petrel
20–25 cm. Dark above; white below; broad wings used for underwater propulsion. Most widespread diving-petrel; breeds New Zealand, southern Australia, Falklands, and subantarctic islands. Feeds on small fish and crustaceans by diving. Highly vulnerable to introduced predators at nesting colonies.