Antarctic Prion vs Subantarctic Shearwater
Pachyptila desolata compared with Puffinus elegans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Antarctic Prion | Subantarctic Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pachyptila desolata | Puffinus elegans |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.5 cm (14.4 in) | 36.8 cm (14.5 in) |
| Weight | 149.0 g (5.26 oz) | 222.5 g (7.85 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Antarctic Prion
Least Concern
Subantarctic Shearwater
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.
Subantarctic Shearwater
27–30 cm. Dark above; white below with clean sharp borders; slightly larger than related small shearwaters. Breeds subantarctic islands (Tristan da Cunha, Gough, St. Paul). Ranges in subantarctic Southern Ocean. Separated from Little Shearwater by range and subtle differences.