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Grey-faced Petrel
(Pterodroma gouldi)
Size: 42-45 cm; wing span 1.05-1.13 m
Weight: 550 g (average)
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Grey-faced Petrels are medium-sized seabirds.
Their plumage
is almost all-grey on the upper side, usually with a scaly
appearance. The face is light-grey to white, depending on wear,
while the underside is dark-grey. The underwings are also
dark-grey, with slightly lighter grey flight feathers.
The tail is wedge-shaped, with the toes hidden under it.
Their short neck and tail give them a squat appearance.
The short, chunky bill is dark-grey and has a knob at its base.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Grey-faced
Petrel 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 Grey-faced Petrel is available
HERE
.
Grey-faced Petrels are a migratory species that breeds in
the North of North Island in New Zealand. From there they
migrate/disperse around New Zealand and the south-western
subtropical Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, usually
staying within a range of -25 to -50 degrees latitude.
Around Australia Grey-faced Petrels reach mostly the south-eastern
coastline of TAS, VIC and NSW. Occasionally they can be found as
far northward as the southern QLD coastline, up to almost the tropic
of Capricorn. Along the southern coastline of Australia they can
occasionally SW WA. They are not usually found on the coast, but stay
out on the high seas,
up to the edge of the continental shelf.
When not breeding, Grey-faced Petrels will mostly stay on the
high seas.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Eaton reports spotting Grey-faced Petrels off Eaglehawk Neck,
near Hobart, TAS, in September 2021.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has been kindly contributed by M. Eaton.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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Near-frontal view of a Grey-faced Petrel
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]
Near-lateral view of a Grey-faced Petrel
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]
Lateral view of the upperside of a Grey-faced Petrel banking sharply
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]
Lateral/ventral view of a Grey-faced Petrel
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a Grey-faced Petrel
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]
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.