Head to head
Magellanic Diving-petrel vs Common Diving-petrel
Magellanic Diving-petrel
VS Common Diving-petrel
Both species fly underwater to catch tiny prey, but one favours sheltered coastal fjords while the other ranges across the wider Southern Hemisphere.
| Magellanic Diving-petrel | Common Diving-petrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pelecanoides magellani | Pelecanoides urinatrix |
| Breeding range | South American fjords and channels | Islands across the Southern Hemisphere |
| Habitat preference | Sheltered coastal fjords | Open ocean islands |
| Distribution | Confined to southernmost South America | The most widespread diving-petrel species |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Feeding technique | Flies underwater using whirring wingbeats | Flies underwater using its wings |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean, coastal |
Magellanic Diving-petrel vs Common Diving-petrel: common questions
Which one favours calmer, more sheltered waters?
The Magellanic diving-petrel favours this habitat, breeding along the sheltered fjords and channels of southernmost South America, unlike the common diving-petrel, which breeds across more exposed oceanic islands.
Which one has the wider overall range?
The common diving-petrel has the wider range, recognised as the most widespread diving-petrel species, found across scattered islands throughout the Southern Hemisphere.
Do both catch prey by flying underwater?
Yes, both species swim underwater using rapid wingbeats to pursue small planktonic prey, bursting directly from the waves back into flight without pausing on the surface.