Giant petrel

Giant petrels are large seabirds of the Southern Ocean, comprising the northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli) and southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus). They are powerful scavengers and predators with a distinctive hooked bill.

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Macronectes: A genus of two large petrel species native to the Southern Ocean. The genus name groups both giant petrel species.
Dynamic soaring: A flight technique that extracts energy from wind-speed differences at different heights above the sea. Giant petrels use wind gradients to travel long distances with little flapping.
Southern giant petrel: A large petrel of the Southern Ocean that breeds on subantarctic islands and Antarctica. Compared with the northern species, it breeds farther south, including on the Antarctic continent.
IUCN Red List: A global assessment system that classifies species by their risk of extinction. It records extinction-risk assessments for both giant petrel species.
Procellariidae: The seabird family that includes petrels, shearwaters, and prions. Giant petrels belong to this family of ocean-ranging tubenoses.
Scavenging: Feeding on dead animals rather than killing them as prey. Carcasses, including seal and penguin remains, are a major food source.
Northern giant petrel: A giant petrel species that breeds on subantarctic islands and ranges across the Southern Ocean. Its breeding colonies lie generally north of those of the southern species.
Bycatch: The unintended capture of non-target animals during fishing. Longline and other fisheries can accidentally kill giant petrels at sea.
Tubular nose: A seabird nasal structure that forms external tubes above the bill and helps manage salt and water. Their tubular nostrils are a defining feature of petrels and their relatives.
Kleptoparasitism: Obtaining food by stealing it from another animal. Giant petrels sometimes chase other seabirds and force them to surrender food.