Head to head
Atlantic Petrel vs Gough Moorhen
Atlantic Petrel
VS Gough Moorhen
Both species share the same tiny island and the same modern threat, despite belonging to entirely different bird groups.
| Atlantic Petrel | Gough Moorhen | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pterodroma incerta | Gallinula comeri |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Vulnerable |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Flight ability | Strong flier, ranges across the South Atlantic | Flightless |
| Time spent on Gough Island | Only during breeding season | Entire life |
| Diet | Carnivore, squid and small fish | Omnivore, plants and invertebrates |
| Main threat | Introduced house mice preying on chicks | Introduced house mice preying on eggs and chicks |
| Habitat | Ocean, grassland | Grassland, coastal |
Atlantic Petrel vs Gough Moorhen: common questions
Which species spends its entire life on Gough Island?
The Gough moorhen does, having lost the ability to fly and remaining on the island year-round, unlike the Atlantic petrel, which spends most of the year ranging across the open South Atlantic.
Do both species face the same threat from introduced mice?
Yes, both the Atlantic petrel and the Gough moorhen are threatened by house mice that have evolved unusually large size and aggressive predatory behaviour on Gough Island, attacking eggs and chicks of both species.
Which species can fly?
The Atlantic petrel can, ranging widely across the South Atlantic outside the breeding season, while the Gough moorhen has lost the ability to fly entirely.