Slender-billed Prion

The Slender-billed Prion is a member of the Pachyptila genus and along with the Blue Petrel make up the prions. They are then members of the Procellariiformes order, and they share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. Although the nostrils on the Prion are on top of the upper bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. They produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights.

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

slender-billed prion; thick-billed prion D More

* Pachyptila belcheri, Slender-billed Prion, breeds on Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Falkland Islands, and Noir Island * Pachyptila crassirostris, Fulmar Prion * Pachyptila crassirostris crassirostris, breeds on Snares Islands, Bounty Island, and Chatham Islands * Pachyptila crassirostris eatoni, breeds on Heard Island and the Auckland Islands More

The Slender-billed Prion is a member of the Pachyptila genus and along with the Blue Petrel make up the prions. They are then members of the Procellariiformes order, and they share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. Although the nostrils on the Prion are on top of the upper bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. More

The following is a photograph of a Slender-billed Prion taken on the Hillarys pelagic in June 1998. More

We headed back to Hillarys seeing another Slender-billed Prion which flew level with the boat for about 30 seconds giving quite good views. We made a quick stop at Little Island near Hillarys to look unsuccessfully for Australian Sea-lions. Thanks to the skipper Trevor and the deck hands Neil and Brett. Thanks very much much to John Darnell for preparing the suet mixed with oil, pollard and some mince. More

The Slender-billed Prion spends all of his non-breeding time over ocean water in the southern oceans. When breeding, they will do so on the Crozet Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, the Falkland islands and Noir Island off the coast of southern Chile. Conservation This species has a very large range and their estimated population is 7,000,000, allowing the IUCN to classify them as Least Concern. More

Also known as Slender-billed Prion, Thin-billed Prion Latin name: Pachyptila belcheri Population: It has a large global population estimated to be 7,000,000 individuals. Cites classified: Least Concern (IUCN, 2008) Where found: They breed in burrows on the Falkland Islands, on some islands off southern Chile, on Iles Crozet and Kerguelen, and possibly on Macquarie Island and South Georgia. More

The slender-billed prion spends most of its time away from land over the southern ocean and around Antarctica. It eats, sleeps and drinks at sea. Its food is mainly crustaceans, with some fish and squid. There is nothing to drink but seawater. A brief trip to the land The slender-billed prion only goes to land to bring up its young. It breeds on islands in the Southern Ocean. More

Petrel, another SLENDER-BILLED PRION that gave excellent views, a KERGUELEN PETREL brilliantly illuminated in the afternoon sunshine and most amazingly an adult CHATHAM ALBATROSS. Highlights: Adult GREY-HEADED and CHATHAM ALBATROSS starred among a total cast of eight species of albatross. It is always a great treat to see a white Southern Giant-Petrel in brilliant winter sunshine against a deep blue sea. More

A SLENDER-BILLED PRION (Thin-billed prion) flew to the rear of the boat and gave excellent views. It was a very pale bird with a prominent supercilium and indistinct M across the wings. Its jizz was very reminiscent of a storm-petrel exhibiting pattering on the surface and occasionally dipping into the water. Several photos of the bird are shown below, showing the diagnostic tail pattern and overall colour of the bird. More