About the Broad-billed Prion
The broad-billed prion is a small pelagic seabird in the shearwater and petrel family, Procellariidae. It is the largest prion, with grey upperparts plumage, and white underparts. The sexes are alike. It ranges from the southeast Atlantic to New Zealand mainly near the Antarctic Convergence. In the south Atlantic it breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island; in the south Pacific it breeds on islands off the south coast of South Island, New Zealand and on the Chatham Islands. It has many other names that have been used such as blue-billed dove-petrel, broad-billed dove-petrel, long-billed prion, common prion, icebird, and whalebird.
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ID tip
The broad-billed prion has the usual prion colours: blue-grey upperparts, white underparts, and the ever present dark "M" across its back and wings. It has a grey crown, a dark eye stripe, and a black-tipped tail. Its heavy bill is iron-grey but can appear blackish from a distance. The head pattern is more distinct and the tail band is less extensive than that of the similar fairy prion. Its bill has the best developed lamellae of all the prions, allowing it to feed on tiny animals. This is a large prion measuring 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in December · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Fulmar PrionPachyptila crassirostrisThe fulmar prion is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae, found in the southern oceans.
Salvin's PrionPachyptila salviniSalvin's prion is a small 29 cm (11 in) petrel with grey and white plumage, and a blue bill.
Antarctic PrionPachyptila desolataThe 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).
Learn the Broad-billed Prion for real
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