Great-winged Petrel
Pterodroma macroptera
Number Of Mature
Individuals (Regional)
46 500
Regional
Population Trend
Decreasing
2025
Regional Category
Near Threatened
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CONTENTSOverview
Names
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IOC English Name: |
Great-winged Petrel |
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SA & IOC Scientific Name: |
Pterodroma macroptera |
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BirdLife International Taxonomy (scientific name): |
Pterodroma macroptera |
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Order: |
PROCELLARIIFORMES |
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Family: |
Procellariidae |
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Species name author: |
Smith 1840 |
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Afrikaans: |
Langvlerkstormvoël |
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Sesotho (South Africa): |
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Sesotho (Lesotho): |
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Siswati: |
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Zulu: |
unontwezonsundu |
Current Assessment Status
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2025 Regional Category [Criteria] |
NT° [A3e] |
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2024 Global Category [Criteria] |
LC (BirdLife International 2018) |
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Population size (Regional) |
>14 000 breeding pairs (Dilley et al. 2019a, 2020) (>46 500 mature individuals) |
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Population size (Global) |
100 000 – 150 000 breeding pairs (Dilley et al. 2020) (c. 332 000 – 498 000 mature individuals) |
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Distribution size (EOO) (Regional) km2 |
<720 (breeding) |
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Distribution size (EOO) (Global) km2 |
66 700 000 (BirdLife International 2018) |
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Distribution size (AOO) (Regional) km2 |
<300 (breeding) |
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Generation time |
16.1 years (Bird et al. 2020) |
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Status change reason |
No Change |
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Migrant (in the region) |
No |
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Regional endemic |
No |
Historic Listing Information
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2000 Regional Status |
LC |
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2015 Regional Status |
NT [D2] |
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Status change reason (if applicable) |
Criteria revision |
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2015 Population size (Regional) |
1.5 million (global); regional population unknown |
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2015 Global Status |
LC |
Reason for Inclusion
Reason for Inclusion in the Assessment
Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera was previously assessed as Near Threatened in the 2015 regional assessment (Taylor 2015).
Category Justification
Category Justification
The regional population breeds at two locations, namely Prince Edward Island and Marion Island, therein satisfying the criterion for regionally Vulnerable (VU) under D2 but the absence of a plausible future threat prevents the use of this criterion.
This species however qualifies for VU under Criterion A3 due to projected future declines based on expert-assessed extinction horizons due principally to the threat of House Mice Mus musculus on Marion Island (Preston et al. 2019). While there is limited direct evidence of ongoing population decline currently, predictive assessments suggest that the species may experience a significant reduction over the next three generations. The extinction horizon estimates indicate that the species’ population may decline by 45.9% within this period, exceeding the threshold for VU under A3 (Lee 2025). A rescue effect is expected based on the size of the global population; hence the regional population of the Great-winged Petrel is assessed as NTo [A3be].
Population Justification
The most recent estimation of the global breeding population was 100 000 – 150 000 pairs (c. 332 000 – 498 000 mature individuals) but there is considerable uncertainty due to the Kerguelen population (Dilley et al. 2020). The large change in breeding numbers is partly due to more accurate counts, but also because of declines at key sites from predation by invasive rodents (Dilley et al. 2019a, 2020). Within South African waters, Crawford et al. (1991) crudely estimated there to be 35 000 individuals in summer and 3500 in winter. Updated counts estimate that there are c. 14 000 breeding pairs (c. 46 500 mature individuals) on Marion Island (Dilley et al. 2020). Population estimates for the Prince Edward Island population are needed to increase confidence in the regional population estimate. Nonetheless, it is presently suspected to outnumber the Marion population (P Ryan, pers comm).
Trend Justification
The global population is suspected to be in decline owing to predation by invasive mammals – cats, rats and mice (Dilley et al. 2020). Breeding success at Marion Island increased from 0–20% to 60–64% following cat eradication (Cooper et al. 1995), but has since reduced to 52%, possibly due to mouse predation on chicks (Dilley et al. 2018) – although this many not be a statistically significant reduction due to sample sizes. Confidence in this population trend estimate is medium. The Prince Edward Island population trend is unknown.
Future population projections based on extinction horizon estimates suggest that significant reductions may occur within the next three generations (Preston et al. 2019). While no significant recent declines have been observed, the potential for future declines justifies careful consideration under Criterion A3 (Lee 2025). Ongoing monitoring is essential to validate these projections and determine whether the species is experiencing measurable population decreases.
Biology & Ecology
Taxonomy
There are no notable issues.
Identification
The bird is a large, all dark petrel, measuring 38–42 cm and weighing around 590 g. Both males and females have similar features, with sooty brown patches around the eyes and a slightly paler greyish-brown area around the bill and chin. The undersides of their flight feathers may show a paler brown hue. They have short, stubby bills, dark brown or black eyes, and grey-black legs and feet (Ryan 2005). Nearly identical to the Grey-faced Petrel P. gouldi that breeds off New Zealand, this species is distinguished by a more extensive grizzled facial patch.
Distribution
The Great-winged Petrel has a circumpolar distribution in the Antarctic zone (Murphy 1936) and is widespread in the Southern Ocean, breeding on Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island, the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Island, Kerguelen Island Western Australia (BirdLife International 2018). Non-breeding birds disperse northwards into temperate and subtropical waters (Ryan 1997) being present in South African continental waters predominantly between November and March. The Great-winged Petrel is common in oceanic waters and over the shelf-break (Ryan 2005).
Ecology
The Great-winged Petrel breeds in the austral winter, preferring sheltered, well-drained slopes with deep soil to nest in. The highest densities of burrows on Marion Island are found in Poa tussock grasslands and Fernbrake Blechnum penna-marina communities (Schramm 1986, Dilley et al. 2019a). Burrow densities at Marion Island are lower than in comparable habitats at neighbouring Prince Edward Island, probably due to previous predation by Feral Cats Felis catus (Schramm 1986). Nests with large chicks are occasionally occupied by White-chinned Petrels, returning to breed, often resulting in fatality of the chick (Dilley et al. 2019b). A generation length of approximately 14 years is estimated (BirdLife International 2018). Birds feed mostly at night by surface-seizing and dipping (Lipinski and Jackson 1989) with prey being predominantly squid, crustaceans and fish (Schramm 1986). Attends fishing vessels with discards and offal being taken (Ryan and Rose 1989) but Great-winged Petrels avoid dense aggregations of other seabirds (Ryan 1997).
Threats & Conservation
Threats
The primary threat to Great-winged Petrels on Marion Island was predation by feral house cats, which caused the species to be listed as VU by Brooke (1984). van Aarde (1980) estimated that c. 48 000 Great-winged Petrels were killed annually by some 2000 feral cats at Marion Island in the 1970s. The species has been recorded being caught by longline and trawl fisheries in South African waters (Petersen et al. 2009). Being a winter breeder makes this species particularly susceptible to predation by introduced House Mice and the unexpectedly slow recovery of the Marion Island population after cat eradication is believed to be due to mice preying on chicks (Dilley et al. 2018). Plastic exposure is a minor threat (Clark et al. 2023), and a low incidence of plastic particles (8%) has been reported for the species (Ryan 1987).
Conservation Measures Underway
A subset of nests are currently being monitored on an annual basis to estimate the breeding success of Great-winged Petrels on Marion Island. Its breeding grounds on the Prince Edward Islands are listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, and as a Special Nature Reserve under the Environment Conservation Act (No 73 of 1989) and managed under the Prince Edward Islands Management Plan 1996. The Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area was proclaimed in 2013.
Conservation Measures Proposed
The eradication of invasive House Mice on Marion Island is currently being planned and will possibly be implemented in 2026. Eradication of mice from Marion Island is expected to have a direct benefit (improved breeding success through elimination of predation on chicks) and possibly indirect effects, through generally restoring Marion Island’s ecosystem functioning. This might be mediated through recovery of all burrowing petrel numbers, which could then reduce the relative impacts of predation by Subantarctic Skua Stercorarius antarcticus on Great-winged Petrel adults and fledglings.
Research Priorities and Questions
- There is need for a population estimate from Prince Edward Island.
- The dearth of published information for this species at the Prince Edward Islands is in keeping with the other burrowing petrels, for example basic demographic and life history information is almost completely lacking, and movements at sea, dispersal of juveniles and meta-population dynamics are unknown.
Contributors & References
Assessor/s
Stefan Schoombie
Reviewer/s
Peter Ryan
References
Bird JP, Martin R, Akçakaya HR, Gilroy J, Burfield IJ, Garnett ST, Symes A, Taylor J, Şekercioğlu ÇH, Butchart SH. 2020. Generation lengths of the world’s birds and their implications for extinction risk. Conservation Biology 34:1252–1261. Available: 10.1111/cobi.13486.
BirdLife International. 2018. Pterodroma macroptera. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T45048812A132667191. Available: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T45048812A132667191.en. [Accessed on 11 August 2023].
Brooke RK. 1984. South African Red Data Book–Birds. Pretoria: Foundation for Research Development: CSIR.
Clark BL, Carneiro APB, Pearmain EJ, Rouyer M-M, Clay TA, Cowger W, Phillips RA, Manica A, Hazin C, Eriksen M, et al. 2023. Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds. Nature Communications 3665. Available: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38900-z. [Accessed on 11 November 2024].
Cooper J, Marais A, Bloomer JP, Bester MN. 1995. A success story: breeding of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) before and after the eradication of feral cats Felis catus at subantarctic Marion Island. Marine Ornithology 23: 33–37.
Crawford RJM, Ryan PG, Williams A. 1991. Seabird consumption and production in the Benguela and western Agulhas ecosystems. South African Journal of Marine Science 11: 357–375.
Dilley BJ, Schoombie S, Stevens K, Davies D, Perold V, Osborne A, Schoombie J, Brink CW, Carpenter-Kling T, Ryan PG. 2018. Mouse predation affects breeding success of burrow-nesting petrels at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Antarctic Science 30: 93–104.
Dilley BJ, Hedding DW, Henry DAW, Rexer-Huber K, Parker GC, Schoombie S, Osborne A, Ryan PG. 2019a. Clustered or dispersed: testing the effect of sampling strategy to census burrow-nesting petrels with varied distributions at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Antarctic Science 31: 231–242.
Dilley BJ, Davies D, Stevens K, Schoombie S, Schoombie J, Ryan PG. 2019b. Burrow wars and sinister behaviour among burrow-nesting petrels at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Ardea 107: 97–102.
Dilley BJ, Hedding DW, Schoombie S, Ryan PG. 2020. A survey of Great-winged Petrels Pterodroma macroptera breeding at sub-Antarctic Marion Island and a revised global population estimate. Ostrich 91: 101–106.
Lee ATK. 2025. The application of IUCN Regional Red List Criteria to the species of South Africa’s Prince Edward Islands. Unpublished report. Johannesburg: BirdLife South Africa.
Lipinski MR, Jackson S. 1989. Surface feeding on cephalopods by procellariiform seabirds in the southern Benguela region, South Africa. Journal of Zoology 218: 549–563.
Murphy RC. 1936. Oceanic birds of South America-Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan Company.
Petersen SL, Honig MB, Ryan PG, Underhill LG. 2009. Seabird bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery off southern Africa. African Journal of Marine Science 31: 191–204.
Preston GR, Dilley BJ, Cooper J, Beaumont J, Chauke LF, Chown, SL, Devanunthan N, Dopolo M, Fikizolo L, Heine J, Henderson S, Jacobs CA, Johnson F, Kelly J, Makhado AB, Marais C, Maroga J, Mayekiso M, McClelland G, Mphepya J, Muir D, Ngcaba N, Ngcobo N, Parkes JB, Paulsen F, Schoombie S, Springer K, Stringer C, Valentine H, Wanless RM, Ryan PG. 2019. South Africa works towards eradicating introduced house mice form the sub-Antarctic Marion Island: the largest island yet attempted for mice. In: Veitch CR, Clout MN, Martin AR, Russell JC, West CJ (eds), Island Invasives: Scaling up to Meet the Challenge. Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission; Vol. 62 pp 40–46. IUCN. https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/48358.
Ryan PG. 1987. The incidence and characteristics of plastic particles ingested by seabirds. Marine Environmental Research 23: 175–206.
Ryan PG, Rose B. 1989. Migrant seabirds. In: Payne AIL, Crawford RJM (eds), Oceans of Life off Southern Africa. Cape Town: Vlaeberg. pp 274–287.
Ryan PG. 1997. Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera. In: Harrison JA, Allan DG, Underhill LG, Herremans M, Tree AJ, Parker V, Brown CJ (eds), The atlas of southern African birds Vol I: Non-passerines. Johannesburg, South Africa: BirdLife South Africa. pp 757.
Ryan PG. 2005. Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera. In: Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ, Ryan PG (eds), Roberts – Birds of Southern Africa, 7th Edn. Cape Town, South Africa: The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. pp 659.
Schramm M. 1986. Burrow densities and nest site preferences of petrels (Procellariidae) at the Prince Edwards Islands. Polar Biology 6: 63–70.
Taylor MR. 2015. Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera. In: Taylor MR, Peacock F, Wanless RW (eds), The Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. BirdLife South Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa. pp 342–343.
van Aarde RJ. 1980. The diet and feeding behaviour of feral cats, Felis catus, at Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 10: 123–128.
Citation
Schoombie S 2025. Great-winged Petrel. In: Lee ATK, Rose S, Banda S, Bezeng SB, Maphalala MI, Maphisa DH, Smit-Robinson H (eds), The 2025 Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. Johannesburg, South Africa: BirdLife South Africa. Available at: https://www.birdlife.org.za/red-list/great-winged-petrel/
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