Great Shearwater vs White-headed Petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Pterodroma lessonii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | White-headed Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Pterodroma lessonii |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 60.7 cm (23.9 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 695.0 g (24.52 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
White-headed 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.
White-headed Petrel
43 cm, wingspan 109 cm. Large petrel with white head, grey back, and white underparts; dark upperwing. Breeds Kerguelen, Macquarie, Auckland, and Antipodes islands. Ranges in subantarctic to temperate Southern Ocean. Feeds on squid and fish; nocturnal at colonies.