Great Shearwater vs Spectacled Petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Procellaria conspicillata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Spectacled Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Procellaria conspicillata |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 71.0 cm (28.0 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 1162.5 g (41.01 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Vulnerable
Spectacled 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.
Spectacled Petrel
58 cm. Large, sooty-black petrel; ivory bill with dark markings; diagnostic white spectacle marks around eye. Breeds only Inaccessible Island (Tristan da Cunha). Vulnerable; entire breeding population on a single isolated island; at risk from longline fisheries and storms.