Pachyptila desolata
Antarctic Prion
©Liam Quinn: Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila desolata) flying over the South Atlantic Ocean between the Falkland Islands and South Georgia
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Procellariiformes
Family
Procellariidae
Genus
Pachyptila
Species
Pachyptila desolata
Status
least concern
Colours
Distinguishing features
Like all prions, its underparts are white and upperparts are blue-grey, with a dark "M" across its back to its wingtips. It has a white eyebrow, blue-grey bill, and blue feet. It also has a grey wedge-shaped tail with a black tip. On its wings, its greater coverts are near black. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 26 cm (Length of specimen)
Wingspan
- Wingspan data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It breeds in colonies on the Auckland Islands, Heard Island, Macquarie Island, Scott Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Crozet Islands, and the Kerguelen Islands. When not breeding, it ranges throughout the southern oceans. (Wikipedia)
Diet
Like all prions, the Antarctic Prion eat primarily zooplankton, which it obtains by filtering water through its upper bill. (Wikipedia)
