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Great-winged Petrel | Pterodroma macroptera
The Great-winged Petrel is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Procellariidae bird family group which includes birds such as Petrels, Shearwaters. The description for the Great-winged Petrel (Latin name Pterodroma macroptera) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Pterodroma macroptera can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 23 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 659. You will find a picture of the Great-winged Petrel on page 657. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Great-winged Petrel between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Great-winged Petrel has a height of 42 cms and weighs around 590 gms. The head is coloured black while the bill is coloured black. The Pterodroma macroptera has a black coloured throat, black legs and a black coloured back. The eyes are brown. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is black Eyes are brown Bill is black Legs are black Throat is black Back is black Feeding Habits ...This birds forages for fish and other aquatic dwellers through surface sizing and diving for food in the water. This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water. This bird is a well known scavenger and rarely kills its own prey. Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...You can see the Great-winged Petrel bird on coastal regions and on the sea shore where the bird will be foraging with other birds The Great-winged Petrel is a very rare bird that can only be seen out at sea following fish vessels. It can be seen in the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean. Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Great-winged Petrel is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. |
