CAPE or PINTADO PETREL Daption capense

Another circumpolar species, whilst some breed on Antarctica on ice-free coasts the majority are found on subantarctic islands, and are a common sight on most voyages in the southern oceans, where they often follow ships, dispersing north to subtropical waters. There are two subspecies, australe being found in the New Zealand subantarctic (centre bird). These birds tend to be smaller and darker with less white dorsally, but many intermediates occur and there is no suggestion of a split. Like the previous species, the sunlight causes fading of the feathers, many are quite brownish.


Click on the photo to return to "petrels" or here for HOMEPAGE