Probably one of the most beautiful Antarctica seabirds, the Snow petrel is pure white with black eyes, beak and underdown. 

Snow petrels do not migrate in the winter but, instead, live on the continent all year-round. Snow petrels have been recorded nesting over 400 miles inland on remote mountain tops where the rock punctures through the ice. 

This is not normal though and Snow petrels will generally nest near the sea as their main source of food is krill. Most Snow petrels will find rock crevices in which to lay their eggs.

Snow Petrel Facts

Size and weight: Fairly small birds weighing on average 350 grams. They have a typical body length of 30-40 cm and a wingspan of roughly 80 cm.

Feeding: Shallow divers, Snow Petrels feed on krill, fish and squid.

Breeding Season: Breeding season occurs in the last 3 months of the year.

World Population: There is an estimated 4 million Snow Petrels.

Distribution: Found almost exclusively on the Antarctic continent and surrounding islands. Usually found on pack ice.

Conservation Status: Least concern.

Predators: Antarctic Skuas prey upon their eggs.

With a wingspan of over 2 meters, the Giant petrel is the largest of the petrel family. 

Like the albatross, Giant petrels often struggle to take flight on flat ground or when there is little wind. Giant petrels are essentially scavengers and are usually found around a seal or whale carcass. 

19th century sailors called Giant petrels ‘stinkers’ because of their habit of vomiting on anyone or anything that appeared to threaten them. 

This cautionary reaction is actually very common among many bird species. Giant petrels make their nests from small stones and will often leave the nest if disturbed. 

Generally Giant petrels are a brown colour, however, about 10% of the species turn out white.

Giant Petrel Facts

Size and weight: The biggest of the Petrel family, Giant Petrels weigh 5 kg and often have a wingspan of over 2 meters.

Feeding: Giant petrels are mainly scavengers and will fest upon seal and penguins carcasses usually.

Breeding Season: Nests are laid towards the end of the year and chicks fledge around March.

World Population: 150,000 is the current population estimate.

Distribution: Circumpolar distribution. Most commonly seen in open water, however, their nesting sites are usually found on the sub-Antarctic islands such as the Falklands.

Conservation Status: Conservation status of least concern.

Predators: No real predators.

Because of the lovely pattern on their backs and wings, Cape petrels are often referred to as ‘Pintardos’ (Spanish for “painted ones”). 

The pigeon sized birds will generally eat small fish and krill, however, if a carcass is lying around they will happily scavenge the remains. 

Cape petrels tend to nest on sea cliffs in great flocks, finding little crevasses in which to nest. 

The chicks resemble noting so much as a fluff ball when young. Cape petrels often live up to 20 years.

Cape Petrel Facts

Size and weight: Cape petrels usually weigh around 400 grams with a body length of 40 cm and a wingspan of 85 cm.

Feeding: A fairly wide diet including carrion, squid, krill and fish.

Breeding Season: Nests are formed in November and the chicks usually fledge in March.

World Population: There are an estimated 2 million Cape petrels.

Distribution: During the breeding season they will stay within Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. In the winter they can be found as far north as the equator.

Conservation Status: Conservation status of least concern.

Predators: No major predators.

Members of the gull family, Antarctic skuas are fiercely predatory birds and will attack anyone of thing that ventures too close to their nest. 

This trait has earn skuas the nickname ‘raptor of the south’. For most of the year Antarctic skuas roam the ocean in search of krill until breeding season when they find a rocky area in which to nest. 

During this period Antarctic skuas will take up residence near other rookeries to raid the eggs and small chicks for food. 

Antarctic skuas have been seen as far south as the South Pole and are a common sight on Antarctica cruises.

Antarctic Skuas Facts

Size and weight: Usually weighing well over a kilogram, males are actually slightly smaller than females generally. Skuas have an average length of 50 cm and a wingspan of 130 – 140 cm.

Feeding: Mainly feed on krill and fish, however, skuas often eat other creatures eggs.

Breeding Season: Skuas lay their eggs between November and January. Chick take just under a month to incubate. A pair will often lay two eggs, however, only 1 usually survives.

World Population: A world population of 10 – 20,000 are estimated.

Distribution: Found throughout Antarctica during the summer months. In winter skuas will often reach as far north as Alaska!

Conservation Status: Least concern.

Predators: No major predators.

Without doubt the most impressive of the Antarctica seabirds and a favourite among Antarctica cruise goers. 

The Wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird in the world with an average of 3.1 meters! As their name suggests, Wandering albatrosses will stay at sea up to a month in search of food, gliding in the breeze without much more effort than sitting still. 

During these fishing trips Wandering albatrosses will often cover in excess of 10,000 km. They are remarkable birds and will often cover a 1,000 km in one morning to get food for their young. 

Chicks weigh 12 kg when they leave the nest. When this happens, the chick does not return for 5 – 7 years. When the young finally do return it’s to the exact same island in which they were raised. 

Fully grown albatrosses often struggle to take flight due to their size and will often take a run up down a slope to get the speed they need to become air born.

Wandering Albatross Facts

Size and weight: With an average wingspan of just over 3 meters, the albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird in the world. Its body length is typically between 105 and 135 cm and its average weight is between 6 and 12 kg!

Feeding: Mainly diet on fish and squid caught in shallow dives.

Breeding Season: Nest are made in November and chicks usually hatch in December. A pair of Albatrosses will normally have one chick every two years.

World Population: Current estimate of 26,000.

Distribution: Usually found in the sub-Antarctic area. 75% of the world’s albatross population is found in three places – South Georgia (25%), Crozet and Kerguelan Islands (10%) and the Prince Edwards Islands (40%).

Conservation Status: Conservation status of ‘vulnerable’ as many of the populations are in long term decline.

Predators: No predators.