Southern Giant Petrel vs Balearic Shearwater
Macronectes giganteus compared with Puffinus mauretanicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Southern Giant Petrel | Balearic Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Macronectes giganteus | Puffinus mauretanicus |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 98.7 cm (38.9 in) | 48.4 cm (19.1 in) |
| Weight | 4425.0 g (156.09 oz) | 514.8 g (18.16 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Southern Giant Petrel
Critically Endangered
Balearic Shearwater
About These Birds
Southern Giant Petrel
86–99 cm, wingspan 185–205 cm; largest procellariid. Bill massive, pale horn with greenish tip. Two morphs: brown-and-white and rare all-white. Breeds Antarctic and subantarctic islands; ranges widely in Southern Ocean. Scavenges carrion and kills penguins; dominant at seal carcasses.
Balearic Shearwater
30–38 cm. Brown above; variably dirty-white to brown below; often shows brown smudging on flanks. Breeds only Balearic Islands, Spain. Critically Endangered with fewer than 3,000 pairs; faces extinction. Migrates to NE Atlantic; threatened by predators, fishing bycatch, and tourist development.