Southern Giant-Petrel

The Southern Giant Petrel is one of two members of the genus Macronectes, which in turn, along with 14 other genera, comprise the Procellariidae family. Macronectes, also referred to as the Giant Petrels, along with the genus Fulmarus, Cape Petrel, Antarctic Petrel, and the Snow Petrel form a sub-family within the larger family.

The Southern Giant-Petrel is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The first census of the Southern Giant-petrel in the Falkland Islands has just been completed. It is now known that nearly 20,000 pairs breed here, a much greater number that the previous estimation of between 5,000-10,000. The world population of around 31,000 must now be re-evaluated and the significance of the Falkland Islands, holding a possible 45% of global numbers, be re-assessed and its importance as a stronghold for this species recognised. More

(Census of the Southern Giant-Petrel Population of the Falkland Islands, 2004-05 (1.8Mb PDF)). They breed in 38 locations, the majority around the south of Falkland Sound and to the west of West Falkland. The largest colony is on Sandy Cay, in the Elephant Cays Group (531kb PDF), with 10,936 breeding pairs. It is classified as Near Threatened by BirdLife International and is protected under the international Agreement for the Protection of Albatrosses and Petrels. More