White chinned petrel

Introduction: White-chinned petrels (Procellaria aequinoctialis) can be found inshore and in oceanic and continental waters, usually at shelf-breaks. White-chinned petrels regularly target ships, trawlers and other fishing vessels for food.

Distribution: Found throughout Namibian waters, mostly over the continental shelf and shelf-breaks along the coast.

Diet: Forages by day and night by surface-diving for hake, shrimps, cuttlefish and small fish. Also eats anchovy and other crustaceans and squid.

Description: Medium-sized to large petrel with dark brown plumage and whitish bills. Procellaria is a Latin phrase for 'bird of the storm'.

Breeding: Breeds annually in burrows on islands. Chicks and fledglings are sometimes adults are killed by the Subantarctic skua.

Size: 55cm.

Weight: 1.3kg.

Wingspan: 140cm.