Procellariidae – Petrels, Diving Petrels & Shearwaters
The Procellariidae (Shearwaters, Petrels & Diving Petrels) are, along with other seabirds – Diomedeidae (Albatrosses), Oceanitidae, Austral Storm Petrels and Hydrobatidae (Northern Storm Petrels) – part of the Procellariiformes order. They are an enigmatic group of pelagic birds typically characterised by their tube-shaped nostrils. Most come to land only to breed; they are otherwise highly adapted to an ocean existence. Some are resident around breeding islands; others are spectacularly long-distance migrants. One can only marvel at the distances travelled by some species.
Tube-nosed species such as those represented by the procellarid group can be seen throughout the oceans of the world but the southern oceans are particularly awe-inspiring, with a wide variety of species and in many locations huge numbers of birds occupying what, to us, is considered inhospitable habitat. A pterodroma arcing over the horizon epitomises the untamed ocean realm and they appear at home miles from land in, what to us would be, frightening seas.
Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis – ©DickDaniels CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The group consists of Fulmars, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels & Prions and a long list of petrel species ranging from the Snow Petrel in Antarctica to the Westland Petrel in New Zealand. Many locations support huge numbers of seabirds. These can include a half-million Sooty Shearwaters circling the shores of Monterey Bay, California, in the northern summer, over 3 million Short-tailed Shearwaters migrating from Japanese waters to Tasmania each year or flights of thousands of prions at high latitudes in the South Atlantic Ocean. For sea-watchers in northern waters, Autumn storms often presage passages of wave-clipping shearwaters but one needs luck to see many species from the land in Europe or North America.
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis – ©Dubi Shapiro
Anyone that has been on an oceanic voyage in the Southern Ocean will be struck by the variety and density of seabirds, but, sadly, many species are very rare, endangered and little known and much work is required to ensure their continued existence.
Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus – ©Dubi Shapiro
Procellarids mostly breed on offshore islands, many of them using burrows or caves. Because they nest on the ground, they are especially susceptible to ground predators like dogs, cats, rats, weasels and the like, some in Australia may lose young to snakes! Because many of the important breeding islands are not predator-free, procellarids have declined in many places around the world. Efforts to save petrel and shearwater populations have galvanised conservation efforts globally. UK conservation recently declared one historic breeding island predator free for the first time in over a century and such effort needs to be made in many other locations where man has thoughtlessly allowed domestic pets to run wild or accidentally introduced verminous rodents.
Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui – ©Dubi Shapiro
This group fascinates us in the same way as Whales and Dolphins do – they are at home in an element that is awe-inspiringly powerful, and seem oblivious to conditions that are often very frightening to humans.
-
Number of bird species: 97
According to the recently (2025) amalgamated AviList, there are some 97 extant species in sixteen genera of Procellariidae. They are:
Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea
Antarctic Petrel Thalassoica antarctica
Cape Petrel Daption capense
Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus
Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli
Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Olson’s Petrel Bulweria bifax
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
Jouanin’s Petrel Bulweria fallax
Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi
Mascarene Petrel Pseudobulweria aterrima
Tahiti Petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata
Beck’s Petrel Pseudobulweria becki
Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica
Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata
Black Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni
Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas
Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii
Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica
Buller’s Shearwater Ardenna bulleri
Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris
Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea
Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis
Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes
Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus
Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis
Galapagos Shearwater Puffinus subalaris
Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia
Hutton’s Shearwater Puffinus huttoni
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus
Mediterannean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan
Audubon’s Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri
Barolo Shearwater Puffinus baroli
Boyd’s Shearwater Puffinus boydi
Heinroth’s Shearwater Puffinus heinrothi
Subantarctic Shearwater Puffinus elegans
Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis
Bryan’s Shearwater Puffinus bryani
Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus
Tropical Shearwater Puffinus bailloni
Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas
Bannerman’s Shearwater Puffinus bannermani
Rapa Shearwater Puffinus myrtae
Townsend’s Shearwater Puffinus auricularis
Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli
Peruvian Diving Petrel Pelecanoides garnotii
Common Diving Petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix
South Georgia Diving Petrel Pelecanoides georgicus
Magellanic Diving Petrel Pelecanoides magellani
Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea
Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur
Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila vittata
Salvin’s Prion Pachyptila salvini
MacGillivray’s Prion Pachyptila macgillivrayi
Antarctic Prion Pachyptila desolata
Slender-billed Prion Pachyptila belcheri
Fulmar Prion Pachyptila crassirostris
Kerguelen Petrel Aphrodroma brevirostris
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis
Magenta Petrel Pterodroma magentae
Atlantic Petrel Pterodroma incerta
Grey-faced Petrel Pterodroma gouldi
White-headed Petrel Pterodroma lessonii
Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera
Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata
Jamaican Petrel Pterodroma caribbaea
Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow
Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma feae
Desertas Petrel Pterodroma deserta
Bonin Petrel Pterodroma hypoleuca
De Filippi’s Petrel Pterodroma defilippiana
Stejneger’s Petrel Pterodroma longirostris
Cook’s Petrel Pterodroma cookii
Pycroft’s Petrel Pterodroma pycrofti
Gould’s Petrel Pterodroma leucoptera
Collared Petrel Pterodroma brevipes
Chatham Petrel Pterodroma axillaris
Black-winged Petrel Pterodroma nigripennis
Juan Fernandez Petrel Pterodroma externa
Galapagos Petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia
Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui
Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis
White-necked Petrel Pterodroma cervicalis
Providence Petrel Pterodroma solandri
Mottled Petrel Pterodroma inexpectata
Murphy’s Petrel Pterodroma ultima
Phoenix Petrel Pterodroma alba
Kermadec Petrel Pterodroma neglecta
Trindade Petrel Pterodroma arminjoniana
Herald Petrel Pterodroma heraldica
Henderson Petrel Pterodroma atrata
-
The Seabird Group
WebsiteThe Seabird Group, a registered charity, was founded in 1966 to promote and help coordinate the study and conservation of seabirds
-
Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the World
| By Derek Onley & Paul Scofield | Christopher Helm | 2007 | Paperback | 240 pages, 46 colour plates, distribution maps | ISBN: 9780713643329 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Flight Identification of European Seabirds
| By Anders Blomdahl, Bertil Breife & Niklas Holmstrom | Christopher Helm | 2003 | Paperback | 374 pages, 690 colour photos | ISBN: 9780713686166 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Seabirds - a natural history
| By Anthony J Gaston | A&C Black | 2004 | Hardback | 222 pages, 22 colour plates, b/w photos, illustrations, figures | ISBN: 9780713665574 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Storm-petrels of the Eastern Pacific Ocean
| (Species Assembly and Diversity along Marine Habitat Gradients) | by Larry B Spear & David G Ainley | AOU | 2007 | Paperback | 77 pages, Figures, tables | ISBN: 9780943610719 Buy this book from NHBS.com
-
Procellariidae
Family AccountProcellariids inhabit open oceans worldwide except when breeding. -
Procellariidae
Family AccountProcellariidae is a group of seabirds that comprises the fulmarine petrels, the gadfly petrels, the diving petrels, the prions, and the shearwaters.
Given the number of species in this family, Fatbirder does not provide quick links to all of them. However, the entries below do include links to representatives of every genera, all those illustrated and some of the most often encountered, iconic or sought-after species.
-
Antarctic Petrel Thalassoica antarctica
Species AccountThe Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica) is a boldly marked dark brown and white petrel, found in Antarctica, most commonly in the Ross and Weddell Seas. -
Antarctic Petrel Thalassoica antarctica
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui
Species AccountA pale, mid-sized petrel with white underparts, dark cap, white forehead, and black margins to the white underwing. -
Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow
Species AccountEndangered Atlantic Ocean seabird that nests on Bermuda and disperses widely when not breeding. Handsomely patterned with dark gray and white. -
Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea
Species AccountThe blue petrel (Halobaena caerulea) is a small seabird in the shearwater and petrel family, Procellariidae. -
Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
Species AccountA small, slender petrel with long, narrow wings and a long tail. It is entirely dark brown except for diagonal buff-colored bars on the upper wings. -
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Cape Petrel Daption capense
Species AccountThe pintado petrel (Daption capense), also called the Cape petrel, or Cape fulmar, is a common seabird of the Southern Ocean from the family Procellariidae. -
Cape Petrel Daption capense
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Common Diving Petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix
Species AccountThe common diving petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix), also known as the smaller diving petrel or simply the diving petrel, is a diving petrel. -
Common Diving Petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis
Species AccountCory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis) is a large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It breeds colonially on the archipelago of the Azores. -
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur
Species AccountThe smallest of the six prion species, the fairy prion is often seen making shallow dives or seizing food from the surface in large flocks at sea. -
Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma feae
Species AccountFea's petrel (Pterodroma feae) is a small seabird in the gadfly petrel genus, Pterodroma. -
Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma feae
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi
Species AccountThe Fiji petrel (Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi), also known as MacGillivray's petrel, is a small, dark gadfly petrel. -
Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes
Species AccountEntirely the color of dark chocolate with a dark-tipped pink bill. Fairly large; similar in size and shape to Pink-footed Shearwater. -
Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia
Species AccountA small dark-brown shearwater with a white belly and a dusky patch under its wings along with dark markings on the inner wing... -
Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis
Species AccountThe great shearwater (Ardenna gravis) is a large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It breeds colonially on rocky islands in the south Atlantic. -
Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea
Species AccountAn appropriately named chunky petrel, distinctive in its bland coloration and lack of patterning. Silvery gray-brown above, with a white belly and pale throat. -
Kerguelen Petrel Aphrodroma brevirostris
Species AccountThe Kerguelen petrel (Aphrodroma brevirostris) is a small (36 cm long) slate-grey seabird in the family Procellariidae. -
Kerguelen Petrel Aphrodroma brevirostris
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus
Species AccountThe Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. -
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Mediterannean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan
Species AccountThe yelkouan shearwater, Levantine shearwater or Mediterranean shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. -
Mediterannean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Species AccountStocky, medium-sized seabird like a mix between a shearwater and a gull. Variable plumage. Light morph birds are white below and gray above like a gull. -
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Species AccountThe northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), fulmar, or Arctic fulmar is a highly abundant sea bird found primarily in subarctic regions of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. -
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli
Species AccountThe northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli), also known as Hall's giant petrel, is a large, predatory seabird of the southern oceans. -
Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Peruvian Diving Petrel Pelecanoides garnotii
Species AccountVery small diving seabird sometimes seen from shore, at time in small groups. Plumage is blackish above and whitish below... -
Peruvian Diving Petrel Pelecanoides garnotii
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Species AccountLarge, lumbering shearwater. Diagnostic yellow bill is often visible from quite a long distance. -
Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea
Species AccountBreeds on rocky cliffs and ledges, both coastal and inland, and forages around the pack ice. Frequently lands to rest on icebergs, sometimes in small groups. -
Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea
Species AccountThe snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea) is the only member of the genus Pagodroma. It is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in Antarctica and has been seen at the South Pole. It has the most southerly breeding distribution of any bird -
Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis
Species AccountAttractive petrel with a black mask, largely gray above and white below, with a diagnostic dark breast band. -
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea
Species AccountThe sooty shearwater (Ardenna grisea) is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae -
Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus
Species AccountGiant-Petrels are known as vultures of the Southern Ocean and can scavenge with gulls at sewage outflows or with albatrosses at fishing boats. -
Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica
Species AccountThe wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. -
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Species AccountZino's petrel (Pterodroma madeira) or the freira, is a species of small seabird in the gadfly petrel genus, endemic to the island of Madeira. -
Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map.
-
Don Roberson
| creagrus@montereybay.com
http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com -
Tony Palliser
https://tonypalliser.smugmug.com