Antarctic Prion vs Boyd's Shearwater

Pachyptila desolata compared with Puffinus boydi

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Antarctic Prion Boyd's Shearwater
Scientific Name Pachyptila desolata Puffinus boydi
Order Procellariiformes Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae Procellariidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Not Evaluated
Length
Wingspan 36.5 cm (14.4 in)
Weight 149.0 g (5.26 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 1
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Antarctic Prion only

Boyd's Shearwater only

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Antarctic Prion

Not Evaluated

Boyd's 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.

Boyd's Shearwater

27 cm. Dark brown above; white below; white face with dark eye-patch. Breeds Cape Verde Islands. Ranges in tropical east Atlantic. Closely related to Barolo Shearwater; both formerly grouped in Little Shearwater complex. Near Threatened; feeds on small fish and squid.

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