Rapa Shearwater vs Antarctic Petrel

Puffinus myrtae compared with Thalassoica antarctica

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Rapa Shearwater Antarctic Petrel
Scientific Name Puffinus myrtae Thalassoica antarctica
Order Procellariiformes Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae Procellariidae
Conservation Status Critically Endangered Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 48.2 cm (19.0 in) 59.2 cm (23.3 in)
Weight 237.5 g (8.38 oz) 658.3333333333334 g (23.22 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- 1
Population Trend — —

Conservation Status

Critically Endangered

Rapa Shearwater

Least Concern

Antarctic Petrel

About These Birds

Rapa Shearwater

30–33 cm. Dark above; white below. Breeds Rapa Island (French Polynesia). Critically Endangered with a very small population on a single island. Poorly known; threatened by introduced predators. Ranges in central south Pacific; one of the rarest shearwaters.

Antarctic Petrel

40–46 cm, wingspan 100–110 cm. Striking chocolate-brown and white pattern; only member of its genus. Breeds solely in Antarctica on cliff ledges; among the most southerly-nesting birds. Feeds on fish and krill beneath pack ice. Returns to colonies in October; one of the most abundant Antarctic seabirds.

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