Antarctic Prion vs MacGillivray's Prion

Pachyptila desolata compared with Pachyptila macgillivrayi

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Antarctic Prion MacGillivray's Prion
Scientific Name Pachyptila desolata Pachyptila macgillivrayi
Order Procellariiformes Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae Procellariidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Critically Endangered
Length
Wingspan 36.5 cm (14.4 in) 38.6 cm (15.2 in)
Weight 149.0 g (5.26 oz) 162.5 g (5.73 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Antarctic Prion only

MacGillivray's Prion only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Antarctic Prion

Critically Endangered

MacGillivray's Prion

About These Birds

Antarctic Prion

25–28 cm, wingspan 58–66 cm. Classic prion pattern: pale blue-grey, white below, bold dark M across upperwing. Medium-broad bill. Most abundant and widespread prion; breeds South Georgia, Heard, Kerguelen, Macquarie. Feeds on crustaceans; makes deep dives compared to congeners.

MacGillivray's Prion

25–27 cm. Medium-billed prion intermediate between Broad-billed and Fairy prions; pale blue-grey with dark M-mark. Breeds St. Paul and Amsterdam islands in southern Indian Ocean. Very restricted range; feeds on zooplankton and small crustaceans at sea surface.

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