Australasian Birds

Procellariidae : Petrels & Shearwaters

Northern Giant Petrel

Macronectes halli

Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005

Giant Petrels are very aggressive species. The above photo shows the typical threat posture that was used as the bird was approaching the bait box. The threats didn't seem to work very often and violent squabbles were common around the boat...

Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005

Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005

Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005

Blood is often drawn in these fights, and some birds were observed to be missing eyes.

Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005

Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005

The iris of immature birds is dark...

Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005

...and gets lighter as the bird matures.

Kaikoura, New Zealand - November 2005

with a White-chinned Petrel - Tasmania, Australia - November 2016

Tasmania, Australia - November 2016