Pintado Petrel
Daption capense
The Pintado Petrel (Daption capense) is a uncommon petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrel found in 17 countries, weighing about 430 g. The pintado petrel, also called the Cape petrel, or Cape fulmar, is a common seabird of the Southern Ocean from the family Procellariidae.
About the Pintado Petrel
The pintado petrel, also called the Cape petrel, or Cape fulmar, is a common seabird of the Southern Ocean from the family Procellariidae. It is the only member of the genus Daption, and is allied to the fulmarine petrels and the giant petrels. It is an abundant seabird, with an estimated population of around 2 million.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The pintado petrel has a black head and neck, and a white belly, breast, and its underwing is white with a black border. Its back, and upperwings are black and white speckled, as is its tail which also has a band of black. It is 35–40 cm (14–16 in) long and the wingspan 80–90 cm (31–35 in). Two subspecies are recognised, though intermediates occur: D. c. capense (Linnaeus, 1758) – breeds on circumpolar subantarctic islands, winters at sea north to around the Tropic of Capricorn and locally further north in cold currents (to the Equator around the Galapagos Islands).
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Brazil, Colombia, Réunion, Pitcairn Islands.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, June, July, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Pintado Petrel?
- The pintado petrel has a black head and neck, and a white belly, breast, and its underwing is white with a black border. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Pintado Petrel?
- The Pintado Petrel is a large sized bird weighing about 430 g.
- Where can you see a Pintado Petrel?
- The Pintado Petrel occurs in 17 countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands.
- What birds look similar to a Pintado Petrel?
- The Pintado Petrel is most easily confused with the Streaked Shearwater, the Fluttering Shearwater and the Sargasso Shearwater.
- Is the Pintado Petrel endangered?
- The Pintado Petrel is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Pintado Petrel for real
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