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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Procellariidae
  4. ›
  5. Pterodroma
  6. ›
  7. Herald Petrel
Herald Petrel
Photo · Plate: John Gerrard Keulemans, 1842--1912

BirdUp · Species

Herald Petrel

Pterodroma heraldica(Salvin, 1888)

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: Critically EndangeredOrigin: Native
Order
PROCELLARIIFORMES
Family
Procellariidae
Genus
Pterodroma

At a glance

The Herald Petrel is a large bird, about 34–39 cm long, listed as Critically Endangered and native to Australia.

Size
34–39 cm
Conservation status
Critically Endangered
Origin
Native
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Herald Petrel look like?

The Herald Petrel is a large bird, about 34–39 cm long.

The Herald petrel is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. Its range includes the south Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
34–39 cm
Wingspan
88 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • Watch for its tendency to fly much higher above the sea surface than most other petrels, frequently wheeling in broad circles at great altitude.

flight

  • Observe the 'towering' flight style characterized by extremely high, steep arcs and rapid glides that take the bird well above the horizon.

plumage

  • Regardless of the color morph, look for a diagnostic silvery-white flash or 'patch' at the base of the underwing primary feathers.

size_and_shape

  • Identify the 'bull-headed' silhouette and notice how the wings are distinctly pushed forward and bowed downwards at the wrist joint during glides.

voice

  • Generally silent at sea, they emit a rapid, staccato 'ti-ti-ti' or high-pitched chattering call when returning to breeding colonies at night.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Herald Petrel?

The Herald Petrel is recorded across its Australian range mainly in March.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

2 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Herald Petrel live in Australia?

The Herald Petrel is native to Australia, recorded across 1 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingIO, PO : Round I. (north-east of Mauritius, central Mascarenes, south-west Indian Ocean); Raine I. (few; north-east Australia), Chesterfield Reefs (New Caledonia), Tonga and Samoa (central Polynesia) to south Cook, Austral, Marquesas, Tuamotu and Pitcairn groups and Rapa Nui (Easter=Eastern Is. group, south-east Polynesia)

Non-breedingTo Peru Current

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant

4 regions recorded