Bird Guide

Black Petrel vs White-chinned Petrel

Black Petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni)

Black Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Large702 gMarine

The plumage of the black petrel is all black, as are its legs and bill except for pale sections on the bill. It is a medium-sized petrel: males average about 720 g (25 oz), females around 680 g (24 oz). It has an overall length of 46 cm (18 in) and a wingspan averaging 115 cm (45 in).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: paloma · CC0
White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis)

White-chinned Petrel

Procellaria aequinoctialis

Large1.2 kgMarine

The white-chinned petrel measures 51–58 cm (20–23 in) in length and has a wingspan of 134–147 cm (53–58 in). Males are heavier and average 1,390 g (49 oz) whereas females weigh around 1,280 g (45 oz). Not only is it the largest Procellaria petrel but is also the largest species in its family outside of the giant petrels. This large petrel is sooty-black and has some white on its throat and chin, more so in the Indian Ocean sector than the Atlantic. Its primaries can have a silvery appearance underneath. Its bill may be horn or yellow with some black between the nostrils.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Mjobling · CC BY 3.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black Petrel and White-chinned Petrel.