About the Blue Petrel
The blue petrel is a small seabird in the shearwater and petrel family, Procellariidae. This small petrel is the only member of the genus Halobaena, but is closely allied to the prions. It is distributed across the Southern Ocean but breeds at a few island sites, all close to the Antarctic Convergence zone.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The blue petrel's plumage is predominantly blue-grey, with a dark "M" extending across the upperwing from wingtip to wingtip. It has a prominent black cap and white cheeks. It is white below apart from dark patches at the side of the neck. The square tail has a white tip. It has a slender black bill. It is 26–32 cm (10–13 in) in length, has a wing span of 62–71 cm (24–28 in) and weighs approximate 200 g (7.1 oz).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Blue Petrel lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Uruguay.
When to see the Blue Petrel
Peak activity in November · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Juan Fernandez PetrelPterodroma externaThe Juan Fernández petrel is a large species of gadfly petrel, 43 cm (17 in) long with a wingspan of 95–97 cm (37–38 in) and a mass of 500 g (1.1 lb).
Kermadec PetrelPterodroma neglectaThe Kermadec petrel is a species of gadfly petrel in the family Procellariidae.
Magellanic Diving PetrelPelecanoides magellaniThis short, compact petrel ranges from 19 to 22 cm (7.5 to 8.7 in) in length, and weighs anywhere between 5 and 6 oz (males are typically heavier than females).
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