Head to head
Providence Petrel vs Magenta Petrel
Both petrels carry extraordinary survival stories tied to remote Pacific islands, but their paths to rarity and recovery differ sharply.
| Providence Petrel | Magenta Petrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pterodroma solandri | Pterodroma magentae |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Critically Endangered |
| Population trend | Stable | Increasing |
| Historical fate | Hunted to local extinction on Norfolk Island | Believed extinct for over a century |
| Rediscovery | Continues breeding on other remote islands | Rediscovered breeding on the Chatham Islands |
| Nesting habitat | Remote island ground burrows | Burrows beneath forest cover |
| Rarity | Restricted breeding range | One of the rarest seabirds on Earth |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean, forest |
Providence Petrel vs Magenta Petrel: common questions
Which one was believed extinct for longer?
The magenta petrel was, believed extinct for well over a century and known only from a single specimen before its rediscovery, while the Providence petrel continued breeding, albeit on a reduced set of islands, throughout its history.
Which one is rarer today?
The magenta petrel is considerably rarer, classified as Critically Endangered with an extremely small population confined to a single island, compared with the Providence petrel's larger, Vulnerable population spread across several islands.
Which one nests under forest cover rather than in the open?
The magenta petrel does, nesting in burrows beneath forest cover on the Chatham Islands, an unusual habitat choice for a seabird that the Providence petrel does not share.