Northern Giant Petrel

tony
July 26, 2021
birds / New Zealand / Subantarctic

In my previous post I marvelled at the grace and beauty of Light-mantled Albatross. This week we are almost looking at the antithesis. Northern Giant Petrels (Macronectes halli) are the vultures of the ocean and recipients of some unflattering names as a result (stinker, stinkpot, sea vulture). Coarse, squabbling and scavenging, they are not the most attractive birds to human eyes but crucial in the role they fulfil.

Photo of a Northern Giant Petrel taking off- Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island — Northern Giant Petrel/Pāngurunguru taking off – Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island

Despite being as large as lesser albatross, Giant Petrels are most closely related to the other fulmarine petrels, Cape Petrel, Snow Petrel and Antarctic Fulmar which are far more delicate and attractive birds. Getting past negative first impressions, they are admirable birds. At sea they master the conditions almost as well albatross while not quite as aerodynamic and graceful due to their hunchback, shorter wings and evil looking eye.

Photo of a Northern Giant Petrel showing its intense eye — Northern Giant Petrel/Pāngurunguru showing its intense, staring eye

These photos were all taken on a Zodiac cruise of Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island. We were lucky to encounter a number of individuals including a group attracted by a dead sea lion that was being scavenged. While not an attractive sight it was an excellent illustration of the crucial role of these large scavenging birds.

Photo of a Northern Giant Petrel scavenging a dead sea lion — Northern Giant Petrel/Pāngurunguru scavenging a dead sea lion

Northern Giant Petrels in New Zealand breed on Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes and Chatham Islands. Southern Giant Petrels in the region breed on Macquarie Island. Northern Giant Petrels also breed on Macquarie Island but generally about 6 weeks earlier.

Southern Giant Petrels ( Macronectes giganteus) are differentiated by having greenish coloured nails (maxillary and mandibular unguis) at the tip of their bill and paler head plumage with white morphs being mostly white in colour. From a distance the reddish brown bill tips of the Northern Giant Petrel look darker than the rest of the bill while entire bill of the Southern looks a similar tone.