On my recent cruise to Antarctica with a boat full of birders, a group of seabirds called petrels were commonly seen, and always exciting birds to watch. They are in the general group of birds known as "tubnoses" because of the salt-excreting gland located in their proximal dorsal bill that excretes salt.
This photo of a Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli shows the tube nose nicely.
The species of petrel most often seen and easily identified from the ship was the Cape Petrel They are related to the fulmars, and are nicely marked in black and white.
Cape Petrel Daption capense
Cape Petrel on the water.
Far less common, and much more exciting to see were Antarctic Petrel Thalassoica antarctica, also blackish and white, but much sleeker and faster. They are one of the southern most breeding birds in the world. Note their scientific name antarctica as a clue to where they are found.
The White Chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis was also common, althogh getting a photo showing the white chin was not easy. In general they look large, slow-flying, heavy, and all black with a white bill.
The Snow Petrel Pagodroma niveawas a favorite of most birders on the trip. They tend to stay close to shore, always near ice, and are startlingly beautiful in their all white plumage. Here is one flying in an iceberg filled bay.
This Blue Petrel is really in the prion family, but has the "Petrel name" and so is included here.
Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea
Stay tuned for some smaller tubenoses, the Storm-petrels.
Good birding and good day!
