Antarctic Prion
Pachyptila desolata
The Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila desolata) is a rare petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrel found in 8 countries, weighing about 147 g. The Antarctic prion also known as the dove prion, or totorore in Māori, is the largest of the prions, a genus of small petrels of the Southern Ocean.
About the Antarctic Prion
The Antarctic prion also known as the dove prion, or totorore in Māori, is the largest of the prions, a genus of small petrels of the Southern Ocean.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Antarctic prion has an overall length of 27 cm (11 in), a wingspan of 61–66 cm (24–26 in) and weighs 150–160 g (5.3–5.6 oz). Like all prions, its underparts are white and upperparts are blue-grey, with a dark "M" across its back to its wingtips. It has a white eyebrow, blue-grey bill, and blue feet. It also has a grey wedge-shaped tail with a black tip. On its wings, its greater coverts are near black. It is so similar in appearance to Salvin's prion that the two species cannot be distinguished at sea.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Peru.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Antarctic Prion?
- The Antarctic prion has an overall length of 27 cm (11 in), a wingspan of 61–66 cm (24–26 in) and weighs 150–160 g (5.3–5.6 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Antarctic Prion?
- The Antarctic Prion is a medium sized bird weighing about 147 g.
- Where can you see an Antarctic Prion?
- The Antarctic Prion occurs in 8 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Chile, South Africa and Argentina.
- What birds look similar to an Antarctic Prion?
- The Antarctic Prion is most easily confused with the Slender-billed Prion, the Broad-billed Prion and the Fulmar Prion.
- Is the Antarctic Prion endangered?
- The Antarctic Prion is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Antarctic Prion for real
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