Birds
Blue Petrel
Halobaena caerulea
Easily mistaken for a prion at a distance, a blue petrel gives itself away only on closer inspection, when a distinctive white-tipped tail reveals it as the sole member of its own unique genus among the Southern Ocean’s seabirds.
Overview
The blue petrel, Halobaena caerulea, is a Near Threatened seabird native to ocean habitat across the Southern Ocean, breeding on scattered subantarctic islands. Its status as the only member of its genus, its close resemblance to prion species, and its vulnerability to introduced predators make it one of the more taxonomically distinctive small seabirds found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
A lookalike with a lineage all its own
Despite appearing almost identical to several prion species at sea, the blue petrel belongs to no genus but its own, a reminder that superficial resemblance between seabirds can mask a much deeper evolutionary separation only revealed through careful study.
Status
Near Threatened, having declined at some breeding islands due to predation pressure from introduced rats and cats, despite remaining widespread across its overall Southern Ocean range.
Blue Petrel: common questions
How can you tell a blue petrel from a prion?
This species has a distinctive white tip to its tail, a clear feature that separates it from the closely resembling prion species, since both share similar pale blue-grey plumage and dark M-shaped wing patterns.
Why is the blue petrel considered unique among seabirds?
This species is the only member of its genus, making it a unique evolutionary lineage among the wider group of prion-like seabirds found across the Southern Ocean.
Where does the blue petrel breed?
This species breeds in burrows dug into soil on remote subantarctic islands, nesting only under cover of darkness to avoid predatory skuas patrolling the colony by day.
Why is the blue petrel classified as Near Threatened?
This species has declined at some breeding islands due to predation pressure from introduced rats and cats, contributing to its Near Threatened classification despite remaining widespread across its overall range.