Head to head
Fairy Prion vs Broad-billed Prion
Fairy Prion
VS Broad-billed Prion
These two prions sit at opposite ends of the size scale for their group, though both share the same specialised filter-feeding lifestyle.
| Fairy Prion | Broad-billed Prion | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pachyptila turtur | Pachyptila vittata |
| Size | The smallest prion species | The largest prion species |
| Bill shape | Narrower than the broad-billed prion | Notably broad, densely lined with comb-like structures |
| Breeding range | New Zealand, Australia, subantarctic islands | New Zealand subantarctic islands, Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Colony visits | Only at night | Almost exclusively at night |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean, coastal |
Fairy Prion vs Broad-billed Prion: common questions
Which is the smallest prion species?
The fairy prion is the smallest of all prion species, noticeably smaller than the broad-billed prion, which instead holds the record as the largest member of the group.
Which has the broadest bill?
The broad-billed prion has the broader bill, densely lined with fine comb-like structures used to strain plankton from seawater, distinctly wider than the fairy prion's bill.
How do the two prions compare in feeding technique?
Both filter tiny planktonic crustaceans directly from the sea surface using comb-like bill structures, though the broad-billed prion's wider bill lets it process water in a manner more similar to a filter-feeding whale.