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Antarctic Petrel
last update: Feb 04, 2008 04:13 PM
Thalassoica antarctica
The Antarctic Petrel is similar to the Cape (Pintado) Petrel but without the pied (speckled) upperwing. Antarctic petrels spend the Antarctic winter at sea near the pack ice edge, returning the continent to breed in the summer. During their time at sea they feed on krill, fish and small squid. Antarctic petrels breed in the mountain ranges of the continent or very southern islands. The biggest breeding colony is Svarthamaren in Dronning Maud Land. Most common in the Ross and Weddell seas, tourists are most likely to see them in early December travelling south along the Antarctic Peninsula. Incubation takes 40 - 48 days while the chicks typically fledge in a further 45 days. Antarctic petrels are not endangered with several million pairs in existence.
Stats
Length: 40 - 45 cm
Wingspan: 100 - 105 cm
Geographic Distribution
