Southern Giant Petrel
The Southern Giant Petrel ( Macronectes giganteus), is a breeding bird of the Antarctic mainland and many Subantarctic Islands. He spends his life mostly on the high seas and is then observed up to the Tropic of Capricorn.
It belongs to the family of the petrels. Another name is the Southern Giant Petrel. From sailors are the birds - as well as the Hall Petrels - " Stinker " since they vomit a smelly oily stomach contents when they get scared. They are thus able to rise faster in the air.
In contrast to the closely related petrel Hall of the Giant Petrel breeds in colonies.
Appearance
The Giant Petrel reaches a wingspan of up to 200 cm and a body length of 84 to 92 cm. Its plumage is of a dark gray-brown, which is lighter colored striking the head, neck and throat. Giant Petrels are well recognizable by their enormous, provided with horny plates beak with its extended nose double tube ( Procellariiformes ). The small bright eyes are surrounded by a spring wheel, the color of the feet ranges from brown to black smoke.
Compared to the Albatros their flight appears clumsy, as they flutter little elegant or in steifflügeliger attitude glide with deeply held head. Giant Petrels are scavengers that feed on dead marine animals that float on the sea surface, but also of young penguins. They often follow ships in search of waste.
Distribution area
The giant petrel has a circumpolar distribution area. It breeds on South Georgia Island, the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen and Macquarie Islands in the. For breeding area also includes the Antarctic Peninsula and on islands off the coast of Chubut province, Argentina. Hatcheries also be found on the Diego Ramirez Islands and Isla Noir before Chile and Tristan da Cunha in the archipelago. On the Falkland Islands broods a large portion of the world's population.
Way of life
Giant petrels breed in loose colonies on flat ground near the coast. The nest is a shallow bowl. The nest consists of an egg, which is incubated for about two months. Young birds fledge at the age of four months.