Snow petrel
The only member of genus Pagodroma, breeds farthest south of any bird.
The snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea) is a small, pure white fulmarine petrel, and it is the sole species in its genus. It is one of just three birds ever recorded at the Geographic South Pole—the others being the Antarctic petrel and the south polar skua—and it holds the record for the most southerly breeding sites of any bird, nesting inland on the Antarctic continent.
German naturalist Georg Forster first described the snow petrel in 1777, based on observations during James Cook’s second Pacific voyage. Forster noted a bird “about the size of a pigeon, entirely white, with a black bill and blueish feet” that appeared around icy masses, calling it a “sure fore-runner of ice.” He placed it in the genus *Procellaria*, naming it *Procellaria nivea*. Today, it is the only member of the genus *Pagodroma*, introduced by French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1856. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek *pagos* (“frost” or “sea-ice”) and *dromos* (“racer” or “runner”), while the species name *nivea* comes from the Latin for “snow-white.” The common name “petrel” refers to Peter the Apostle walking on water, alluding to the bird’s habit of appearing to run on the water’s surface when taking off.
Snow petrels vary noticeably in size, with larger and smaller forms that hybridize extensively, making their taxonomy and distribution unclear. In 1857, Bonaparte listed subspecies *major* and *minor* but without details, so these names are considered invalid (*nomen nudum*). In 1863, German ornithologist Hermann Schlegel described both subspecies but mistakenly thought Forster’s original description referred to the larger form. In 1912, Gregory Mathews treated the larger form as a separate species, *Pagodroma confusa*. Currently, the two forms are usually treated as subspecies, with Schlegel credited as the authority for the larger one.
As a member of the family Procellariidae and order Procellariiformes, the snow petrel shares key traits with other petrels: nasal passages (naricorns) attached to the upper bill; a bill split into seven to nine horny plates; a stomach oil made of wax esters and triglycerides, stored in the proventriculus and used for defense against predators (mainly skuas) and as energy-rich food for chicks and adults during long flights; and a salt gland above the nasal passage that excretes a concentrated saline solution, helping desalinate the
- Scientific name
- Pagodroma nivea
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Wingspan
- 75–95 cm (30–37 in)
- Body length
- 30–40 cm (12–16 in)
- Population estimate
- 4 million adult birds
- Conservation status
- Least concern
Lore & Background
Breeding occurs in colonies on the Antarctic continent and various Antarctic islands, with nests in deep rock crevices lined with pebbles. One white egg is laid between late November and mid-December, incubated for 41 to 49 days. Chick mortality is 10–15%, and egg mortality is 50%. Partners are faithful for life (around 20 years). Snow petrels feed mainly on fish, cephalopods, mollusks, krill, and carrion such as seal placentas and dead penguin chicks. They are almost entirely restricted to cold Antarctic waters, and flocks are characteristically seen sitting on icebergs.
Reader's Guide
The snow petrel holds significance as the only member of its genus and as one of the most southerly-breeding birds, with nesting sites inland in Antarctica. Its presence at the Geographic South Pole—shared only by the Antarctic petrel and south polar skua—underscores its extreme cold-adaptation. The species illustrates taxonomic challenges in ornithology: size variation and hybridization between two forms have led to historical confusion over subspecies classification, with early names like Bonaparte's major and minor deemed invalid, and later treatments by Schlegel and Mathews debated. The snow petrel's biology reflects adaptations to polar life: it produces stomach oil for defense and chick feeding, and possesses a salt gland to desalinate seawater. Its conservation status as least concern, with an estimated 4 million adults and a range of 35.9 million square kilometers, suggests a stable population. The bird's historical description by Georg Forster during Cook's voyage ties it to early European exploration of the Antarctic region, and its name—derived from Greek for 'frost runner' and Latin for 'snow-white'—captures its icy habitat and appearance.
Did You Know?
- The snow petrel is the only member of the genus Pagodroma.
- It is one of only three bird species seen at the Geographic South Pole, along with the Antarctic petrel and the south polar skua.
- Snow petrels produce a stomach oil made of wax esters and triglycerides, which they can spray as a defense against predators like skuas.
- The species was first described in 1777 by Georg Forster, who accompanied James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific.
More in Birds of subantarctic islands 1-24
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