Head to head
Spectacled Petrel vs Atlantic Petrel
Spectacled Petrel
VS Atlantic Petrel
Both petrels breed on isolated South Atlantic islands and face very different modern threats.
| Spectacled Petrel | Atlantic Petrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Procellaria conouri | Pterodroma incerta |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Endangered |
| Population trend | Increasing | Decreasing |
| Main threat | Historical longline fishing bycatch | Predation by unusually large introduced mice |
| Breeding site | Inaccessible Island | Almost entirely Gough Island |
| Distinguishing feature | Pale spectacle-like eye markings | Mostly dark brown plumage, no strong markings |
| Trend direction | Recovering | Still declining |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean, grassland |
Spectacled Petrel vs Atlantic Petrel: common questions
Which petrel's population is recovering rather than declining?
The spectacled petrel's is, having shown a documented increase following measures to reduce fishing bycatch, unlike the Atlantic petrel, whose population continues to decline due to introduced mice.
Which petrel is threatened by introduced mice?
The Atlantic petrel is, breeding almost entirely on Gough Island where house mice have evolved unusually large size and now prey directly on chicks, a threat the spectacled petrel does not face on its own breeding island.
Which petrel has distinctive facial markings?
The spectacled petrel does, with pale eye markings that resemble spectacles, a feature the largely uniform dark-plumaged Atlantic petrel lacks.