Birds
Great-winged Petrel
Pterodroma macroptera · also called grey-faced petrel
Choosing the depths of winter to lay its single egg, a great-winged petrel raises its chick through some of the coldest weather its breeding islands experience, all while carrying wings long and powerful enough to make it one of the largest gadfly petrels in the Southern Ocean.
Overview
The great-winged petrel, Pterodroma macroptera, is a Least Concern seabird native to ocean habitat spanning the South Atlantic, southern Indian Ocean, and South Pacific. Its unusually large size, powerful long-winged flight, and winter breeding schedule make it one of the more physically imposing and ecologically distinctive gadfly petrels found across the Southern Hemisphere.
Breeding against the calendar
While most seabirds time their nesting to avoid the harshest weather, the great-winged petrel does the opposite, laying its egg as winter approaches and raising its chick through conditions that would challenge many other breeding strategies entirely.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across its scattered breeding islands spanning multiple Southern Hemisphere ocean basins.
Great-winged Petrel: common questions
How big is the great-winged petrel?
This species is one of the largest members of the gadfly petrel genus, with unusually long, powerful wings suited to fast, dynamic flight across the Southern Ocean.
Why does the great-winged petrel breed in winter?
This species is unusual for laying its egg in autumn and raising a chick through some of the coldest weather its range experiences, rather than following the warmer-season breeding schedule most seabirds use.
Where does the great-winged petrel breed?
This species breeds on islands off South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, along with Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island in the South Atlantic, spanning several southern landmasses.
What does the great-winged petrel look like?
This species has almost entirely dark grey-brown plumage overall, lacking the sharp contrasting patterns seen in some related gadfly petrel species found across the same waters.