How do you identify a Gould's Petrel?

Gould's petrel is a small gadfly petrel, white below and dark brown and grey above. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Gould's Petrel?

The Gould's Petrel is a medium sized bird weighing about 147 g.

Where can you see a Gould's Petrel?

The Gould's Petrel occurs in 6 countries, including Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, French Polynesia and Fiji.

What birds look similar to a Gould's Petrel?

The Gould's Petrel is most easily confused with the Great-winged Petrel, the Black-capped Petrel and the Cook's Petrel.

Is the Gould's Petrel endangered?

The Gould's Petrel is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Gould's Petrel

Pterodroma leucoptera

Petrels, Shearwaters, and Diving Petrels · Procellariiformes · Uncommon

The Gould's Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera) is a uncommon petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrel found in 6 countries, weighing about 147 g. Gould's petrel is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae.

VulnerableUncommonEats invertebratesmarinecavity nest147 g

About the Gould's Petrel

Gould's petrel is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. The common name commemorates the English ornithologist and bird artist John Gould (1804–1881).

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

Gould's petrel is a small gadfly petrel, white below and dark brown and grey above. The species is classified within the subgenus Cookilaria, all members of which have a dark M pattern across the upper wings. Gould's petrel has long narrow wings, a short rounded tail and the head is noticeably dark, with a white forehead and face. Gould's petrel is 30 cm in length with a wingspan of 70 cm and weighs 180–200 g. Males are slightly larger than females.

Where it lives

Australia New Caledonia New Zealand French Polynesia Fiji Tonga

When to see it

Best months: March, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Gould's Petrel?: Gould's petrel is a small gadfly petrel, white below and dark brown and grey above. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Gould's Petrel?: The Gould's Petrel is a medium sized bird weighing about 147 g.
Where can you see a Gould's Petrel?: The Gould's Petrel occurs in 6 countries, including Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, French Polynesia and Fiji.
What birds look similar to a Gould's Petrel?: The Gould's Petrel is most easily confused with the Great-winged Petrel, the Black-capped Petrel and the Cook's Petrel.
Is the Gould's Petrel endangered?: The Gould's Petrel is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Gould's Petrel for real

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