Great Shearwater vs Great-winged Petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Pterodroma macroptera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Great-winged Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Pterodroma macroptera |
| 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) | 548.75 g (19.36 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Great-winged 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.
Great-winged Petrel
41 cm, wingspan 97 cm. Large all-dark gadfly petrel; dusky bill, black feet. Breeds on islands from Tristan da Cunha to SW Australia and New Zealand. Ranges widely in southern Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Flies with characteristic high arcing; feeds on squid and fish.