South Georgia Diving Petrel
Pelecanoides georgicus
The South Georgia Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus) is a legendary petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrel found in 5 countries, weighing about 121 g. The South Georgia diving petrel or Georgian diving-petrel is one of five very similar small auk-like diving petrels of the southern oceans.
About the South Georgia Diving Petrel
The South Georgia diving petrel or Georgian diving-petrel is one of five very similar small auk-like diving petrels of the southern oceans. It is native to the South Atlantic and islands of the southern Indian Ocean and south-eastern Australia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The South Georgia diving petrel is a small, plump petrel, 180 to 220 mm (7.1–8.7 in) in length and weighing around 90 to 150 g (3.2–5.3 oz). Its plumage is black above and dull white below, and it has a stubby black bill with pale blue edges. The wings have thin white strips. The face and neck can be more brown than black. The legs are blue with posterior black lines down the tarsi.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Australia, South Africa, Chile, Falkland Islands.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a South Georgia Diving Petrel?
- The South Georgia diving petrel is a small, plump petrel, 180 to 220 mm (7.1–8.7 in) in length and weighing around 90 to 150 g (3.2–5.3 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a South Georgia Diving Petrel?
- The South Georgia Diving Petrel is a medium sized bird weighing about 121 g.
- Where can you see a South Georgia Diving Petrel?
- The South Georgia Diving Petrel occurs in 5 countries, including New Zealand.
- What birds look similar to a South Georgia Diving Petrel?
- The South Georgia Diving Petrel is most easily confused with the Magellanic Diving Petrel, the Peruvian Diving Petrel and the Common Diving Petrel.
Learn the South Georgia Diving Petrel for real
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