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Antarctic Prion
(Pachyptila desolata)
: "Dove Prion", "Snowbird", "Whale-bird", "totorore" (NZ)
Size: 25-30 cm; wing span 62-65 cm
Weight: 120-175 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Antarctic Prions are the largest of the prions.
Their upperparts, including the cap, are bluish-grey, with a
dark-grey "M" pattern spanning from one wing tip to the other.
In Antarctic Prions this "M" is indistinct.
Another distinguishing feature is the conspicuous facial
pattern, with a well-defined eye stripe connecting with
conspicuous bluish-grey marks on the sides of the neck.
Like other prions, Antarctic Prions have a black terminal
tail band. The lower side (front) is almost all white.
The underwings are off-white to light-grey, except for a
thin, faint, white trailing edge and a thin, black outer
leading edge. The undertail has a black terminal band and
a grey subterminal patch.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Antarctic
Prion at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Antarctic Prion is available
HERE
.
Depending on where they breed, 3 races of Antarctic Prions are
distinguished, "desolata", "altera" and "banksi". Altogether,
they populate the southern oceans around the globe, up to about
the tropic of Capricorn. They are rarely seen closer to the
equator.
Antarctic Prions reach the coastline of Australia mostly in an area
spanning from the SW tip of WA to the NSW Central Coast, including
Tasmania. Occasionally they can be seen up to southern QLD off the
East coast and off Geraldton, WA, in the West.
They are usually not found close to the coastline or along Bass
Strait, but near the edge of the continental shelf.
Antarctic Prions are pelagic birds that spend most of
their time out on the open ocean and in coastal waters. They breed on small
offshore islands.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Roderick reports spotting Antarctic Prions off
Port Stephens, NSW, in June 2013.
All photographic and sighting information presented
on this page has kindly been contributed by M. Roderick.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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Lateral view of an Antarctic Prion, showing a bold dark mark behind
the obvious supercilium (more distinct than a Fairy Prion's) and clean white flanks
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Off Port Stephens, NSW, June 2013]
Lateral view of an Antarctic Prion, front right, showing its
upperwing pattern, with a
Fairy Prion,
back left; note the difference in the "M" pattern - the
Fairy Prion's
is darker and more distinct, while the Antarctic Prions' is
less distinct; also discernible is the reduced amount of black
in the tail band - note also the larger bill on the Antarctic
Prion, as well as the bold white supercilium
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Off Port Stephens, NSW, June 2013]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.