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Fairy PrionAlternate name(s): "Fairy Dove Petrel", "Whalebird*" Size: 24-28 cm; wing span 56-60 cm Weight: 110-170 g |
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See Fairy
Prion at Wikipedia |
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Photos |
Race "turtur"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Views of both the upperwing and underwing patterns of Fairy Prions
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]
Lateral view from above onto a Fairy Prion; at this angle one
can see very clearly the characteristic "M" upperwing pattern
and the black terminal band on the tail
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Wattamolla, Royal
NP, NSW, June 2013]
Lateral view of a Fairy Prion, back left, showing its upperwing pattern,
with an Antarctic Prion,
back left; note the difference in the "M" patterns - the Antarctic Prion's is
spotty and has a gap at the bird's rump, while the Fairy Prions' is complete
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Off Port Stephens, NSW, June 2013]
Dorsal view of a Fairy Prion (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Wattamolla, Royal
NP, NSW, June 2013]
Fairy Prion close to the surface of the water
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Wattamolla, Royal
NP, NSW, June 2013]
Comparison of a Fairy Prion and a Silver Gull
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]
Fairy Prion on the water
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]
A single Fairy Prion, seen from above, can be very hard to spot -
those who want to have a go can click on the shot to see the larger
version and try to find a second bird in the field of view...
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]
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Food, Diet |
Fairy Prions feed on fish.
Fairy Prions have two hunting techniques; they either dive into the water
from low height or sit on the water and then jab at fish just under the
surface; the latter is seen here
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]
Fairy Prions hunting for fish just under the water surface (creating
the ripple), together with a mob of Silver Gulls
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]
Here the whole mob of Fairy Prions and Silver Gulls can be seen moving
on to the area where a school of fish will appear at the surface
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]
Lateral view of a Fairy Prion, top, in direct comparison with a
Slender-billed Prion, bottom
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Off Port Stephens, NSW, August 2016]