About the Southern Giant Petrel

The southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus) is a large seabird native to the Southern Ocean. They are among the largest of the petrel family, with a wingspan reaching up to 2.1 meters (around 7 feet) and a body length of 86-99 cm (34-39 inches). They can weigh between 3.8 to 8.7 kg (8.4 to 19.2 lbs).

Southern giant petrels have two colour morphs: dark and light. The dark morph is uniformly greyish-brown, while the light morph has a white head, neck, and underparts with dark mottling. They have a distinctive, strong, hooked bill and tube-shaped nostrils on the top of the bill.

Southern giant petrels are opportunistic feeders, eating a wide range of foods, including carrion, fish, squid, krill, and other seabirds. They are known to follow ships to scavenge waste and refuse. They breed in loose colonies, laying a single egg in a rudimentary nest on the ground. The breeding season starts in October, with chicks fledging by March. They are powerful fliers, using dynamic soaring and gliding to cover vast distances over the ocean.

The southern giant petrel has a relatively large population, though its distribution is spread across the Southern Hemisphere. The global population is estimated to be around 62,000 individuals. This estimate includes both breeding and non-breeding individuals.

The overall population trend is considered stable, though some specific colonies have shown fluctuations in numbers.

Conservation efforts focus on reducing bycatch in fisheries, protecting breeding habitats, and controlling introduced predators on breeding islands.

Rising sea levels can lead to the loss of coastal nesting sites on low-lying islands. Many breeding sites are on remote islands vulnerable to erosion and submersion.

Southern Giant Petrel Photography

Mark Stratton

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Menacing Penguins

Southern Giant Petrel menacing Gentoo penguins in South Georgia 

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At sea

A Giant Petrel at sea on the Drake Passage

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Wing span

A Southern Giant Petrel opens its wings. They are among the largest of the petrel family, with a wingspan reaching up to 2.1 meters (around 7 feet) and a body length of 86-99 cm (34-39 inches)

Where to see Southern Giant Petrels

These birds are found throughout the Southern Hemisphere, from the Antarctic continent north to about 30°S. They are commonly seen around sub-Antarctic islands and coastal regions. Major breeding colonies are on islands such as South Georgia, Kerguelen, the Falkland Islands, and Macquarie Island.

Interesting facts about Southern Giant Petrels

Southern giant petrels are often called "stinkers" due to their habit of feeding on carrion and strong body odour.

They are known to be highly aggressive, both toward other seabirds and humans, especially when defending their nests.

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