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Providence Petrel
(Pterodroma solandri)
: "Solander's Petrel", "Brown-headed Petrel", "Bird-of-Providence",
"Big Hill Muttonbird"
Size: 40 cm; wing span ca. 1.0 m
Weight: 420-560 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Providence Petrels are medium-sized seabirds.
Their plumage
is almost all-grey on the upper side, usually with a scaly
appearance. Especially in fresh
plumage the
trailing edges of the upperwings can have a "frosted" appearance,
with a silvery appearance of the secondaries and tertiaries.
The face is light-grey to white, depending on wear, while
the underwings are dark-grey, with paired silver wing flashes.
The underside is otherwise mid-grey in fresh
plumage,
fading to light-grey when worn. Only the sides of the head
and a collar always remain dark. 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 Providence
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 Providence Petrel is available
HERE
.
Providence Petrels are a migratory species of the Pacific
Ocean. Apart from a few sightings in the tropical eastern
Pacific, in the southern hemisphere they are mostly found
around eastern Australia, on islands in the Tasman Sea and
on/around the South Pacific islands to the North of New
Zealand, including New Caledonia and Fiji.
In the northern hemisphere they are found mostly around
Japan, the Sakhalin peninsula and on islands in the
north-western Pacific Ocean, from the Bonin Islands to
the western islands of the Aleutian chain.
Around Australia Providence Petrels populate the seas around the
islands
of the Bass Strait, including Tasmania, the
islands
of the Tasman Sea, and all the way along the Australian East coast,
to the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.
They breed on Lord Howe Island and on Phillip Island, next to Norfolk
Island. They also used to breed on Norfolk Island, before being
extirpated there.
When not breeding, Providence Petrels will mostly stay on the
high seas.
They breed on
offshore islands.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Eaton reports finding Providence Petrels 22 NM off
Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, in April 2018.
P. Brown reports finding Providence Petrels in Australian
waters off Sydney, NSW, in April 2019.
M. Roderick spotted Providence Petrels off Port Stephens, NSW,
in September 2020.
M. Eaton reports spotting Providence Petrels off Eaglehawk Neck,
near Hobart, TAS, in September 2021.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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Lateral view of a Providence Petrel that went out in style,
breathing its last on a cruise ship
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Off Sydney, NSW, April 2019]
Near-lateral view onto the upperparts of a Providence Petrel
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[22 NM off Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, April 2018]
Lateral view of a Providence Petrel in flight; note the squat
shape and the small light-grey facial mask
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Off Port Stephens, NSW, September 2020]
Lateral view of a Providence Petrel in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[22 NM off Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, April 2018]
Lateral view of the underside of a Providence Petrel in flight;
the bird's squat appearance, together with the underwing pattern
and the presence of a light-grey facial mask secure the species
identification (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, September 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a Providence Petrel in low, hovering flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[22 NM off Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, April 2018]
Comparison of a Providence Petrel, upper left, with a
Wilson's
Storm-Petrel, lower right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[22 NM off Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, April 2018]
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.