Great Shearwater vs Murphy's Petrel
Ardenna gravis compared with Pterodroma ultima
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Murphy's Petrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Pterodroma ultima |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 52.0 cm (20.5 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 380.0 g (13.40 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Murphy's 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.
Murphy's Petrel
39–41 cm. Dark grey-brown above; variable pale grey below with dusky underwing. Breeds widely across central Pacific (Pitcairn, Austral, Henderson islands). Migrates to North Pacific in non-breeding season. Feeds on squid and fish; nocturnal at breeding colonies; Near Threatened.