Great-winged Petrel [Pterodroma macroptera gouldi]
Description
The Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera gouldi) is a subspecies of the Grey-faced Petrel. It is a large petrel with a wing span of 112-127 cm. The plumage is dark sooty-brown overall, with a lighter grey throat and a distinctive 'M' shape across the upper wings. This subspecies breeds on islands off New Zealand and Australia and spends the non-breeding season in the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans. They feed on squid, fish, and marine invertebrates, often following whales and fishing boats to scavenge.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Albatrosses, Petrels, and Shearwaters
Procellariiformes
|
| Family |
Shearwaters and Petrels
Procellariidae
|
| Genus |
Great-winged Petrels
Pterodroma
|