Great Shearwater vs Herald Petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Pterodroma heraldica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Herald Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Pterodroma heraldica |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 56.2 cm (22.1 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 278.5 g (9.82 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Herald 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.
Herald Petrel
37 cm. Polymorphic petrel; pale morph has white underparts with dark M-mark and partial collar; dark morph sooty brown. Breeds widely across central and south Pacific islands. Ranges in tropical Pacific; feeds on squid and fish. Closely related to Kermadec Petrel.