Head to head
White-headed Petrel vs Great-winged Petrel
White-headed Petrel
VS Great-winged Petrel
Both are large, powerful gadfly petrels ranging widely across the Southern Ocean, but their plumage and breeding schedules set them apart.
| White-headed Petrel | Great-winged Petrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pterodroma lessonii | Pterodroma macroptera |
| Plumage | An almost entirely white head and body | Almost entirely dark grey-brown |
| Breeding timing | Not documented as unusual | Breeds during the winter months |
| Breeding range | Kerguelen, Crozet, Marion, Auckland Islands | South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tristan da Cunha, Gough |
| Size | One of the larger gadfly petrels | One of the largest gadfly petrels |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean |
White-headed Petrel vs Great-winged Petrel: common questions
Which one has almost entirely white plumage?
The white-headed petrel has this feature, an almost entirely white head and underparts contrasting sharply with dark upperwings, unlike the mostly dark great-winged petrel.
Which one breeds during the winter months?
The great-winged petrel breeds this way, laying its egg in autumn and raising a chick through some of the coldest weather its range experiences, unlike the white-headed petrel.
Which one is larger?
The great-winged petrel is slightly larger, one of the largest gadfly petrels overall, though the white-headed petrel is also among the bigger members of the same genus.