Head to head
Westland Petrel vs Grey Petrel
Westland Petrel
VS Grey Petrel
Both petrels share the unusual habit of breeding in winter, but their breeding ranges and plumage set them apart.
| Westland Petrel | Grey Petrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Procellaria westlandica | Procellaria cinerea |
| Breeding range | A single area of New Zealand's South Island | Scattered sub-Antarctic islands |
| Nesting habitat | Burrows under a forest canopy | Burrows in soil or among rocks |
| Breeding timing | Breeds during the Southern Hemisphere winter | Breeds during the Southern Hemisphere winter |
| Plumage | Almost entirely dark brown-black | Pale grey upperparts, white underparts |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Near Threatened |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean |
Westland Petrel vs Grey Petrel: common questions
Do both petrels breed in winter?
Yes, both species breed during the depths of the Southern Hemisphere winter, an unusual timing shared by relatively few Southern Ocean seabirds.
Which one nests under a forest canopy?
The Westland petrel nests this way, one of the very few burrow-nesting seabirds to breed inland under a forest canopy, unlike the grey petrel, which nests in more typical open burrows on sub-Antarctic islands.
Which one has paler plumage?
The grey petrel has paler plumage, with pale grey upperparts contrasting against white underparts, unlike the Westland petrel's almost entirely dark brown-black colouring.