Southern Giant Petrel - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Macronectes giganteus

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 05 Oct 2001

Profile last updated: 13 Nov 2024

Description

A large seabird up to 100cm in length with a wingspan between 150 and 210cm. The species is sexually dimorphic, with males larger than females. Within populations, two colour morphs occur. The most common is the dark morph with a white head and neck, and a dark grey-brown body. There is also a white morph with scattered black feathers.

Distribution

The Southern Giant Petrel has a circumpolar pelagic range from Antarctica to approximately 20° S and is a common visitor off the coast of NSW.

Habitat and ecology

Over summer, the species nests in small colonies amongst open vegetation on Antarctic and subantarctic islands, including Macquarie and Heard Islands and in Australian Antarctic territory.
A single chick is raised and although breeding occurs annually, approximately 30% of the potential breeding population does not nest.
It is an opportunistic scavenger and predator, and scavenges from fishing vessels and animal carcasses on land.
It is also an active predator of cephalopods and euphausiids, as well as smaller birds (particularly penguins) both at land and at sea.
Birds will desert their nests if disturbed at the breeding colony.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Ocean

Threats

Mortality as a result of long-line fishing.
Predation by feral cats and black rats on breeding islands.
Habitat degradation on breeding islands from introduced caribou, sheep and rabbits.
Loss of the southern cuttlefish populations.
Oil spills.
Changes to sea temperature and air temperatures which affect marine prey availability.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Avoid discarding any debris at sea, particularly plastic.
Implement predator control programs.
Prevent and minimise disturbance at breeding colony.
Support the replacement of longline fishing by other techniques.
Encourage the use of fishing techniques that reduce the catch of seabirds, including the setting of lines for fishing operations at night and weighting of lines to ensure that they sink quickly.

Information sources

NSW Scientific Committee (2001) Southern giant petrel - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Ocean	Batemans Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Hawkesbury Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Manning Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	South Pacific Ocean	Known	None
Ocean	Tweed-Moreton	Known	None
Ocean	Twofold Shelf	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Northern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Southern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None