Antarctic prion

Introduction: Antarctic petrel (Pachyptila desolata) were named after Desolation Island, the name Captain Cook gave Kerguelen Island. Observed mainly in large aggregations in oceanic and continental shelf-waters, their numbers can be attributed to concentrations of zooplankton that are formed at the onset of frontal systems.

Distribution: Occurs throughout Namibian waters as far north as the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund region.

Diet: Forage by surface-seizing in the day, eating mainly small planktonic crustaceans, small fish, trawler offal and squid.

Description: Small blue grey petrel with a 'M' marking across the upper wing. White underparts, short wings. Pachyptila is Greek for 'thick-feathered'. Often confused with broad-billed and Salvin's prions, which are both slightly larger.

Breeding: Breeding colonies arrive in southern African waters from October, leaving around March to early April. Extralimital.

Size: 25cm.

Weight: 145g.

Wingspan: 60cm.