Soft-plumaged petrel
A medium-sized seabird with dark grey and white plumage.
The soft-plumaged petrel, known scientifically as *Pterodroma mollis*, belongs to the seabird family Procellariidae. For breeding, it relies on islands scattered across the Southern Hemisphere, including Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island, the Prince Edward Islands, the Crozet Islands, Macquarie Island, and New Zealand’s Antipodes Islands. A small breeding population also exists in Tasmania’s Maatsuyker Island Group. Once the breeding season ends, these birds spread out widely, traveling as far as eastern South America up to Brazil, southern Africa, and Australia. Occasionally, individuals turn up as vagrants in Norway and Jordan.
Taxonomically, three North Atlantic species—Fea’s petrel, Desertas petrel, and Zino’s petrel—were once considered subspecies of this bird. In appearance, the soft-plumaged petrel is medium-sized, with narrow wings and a pointed tail that are distinctive in flight. Its plumage combines dark grey and white: a dark grey head features prominent white feathers on the cheeks and throat, white speckling on the forehead, and a noticeable dark patch around the eye. The underside is mostly white, though the underwings shift to dark grey. The black bill, measuring 25–32 mm, ends in a sharp hook, while the legs are pink with black on the outer webs and toes. A dark morph also exists. Both sexes are vocal, producing medium-pitched moans and shrill squeaks.
- Scientific name
- Pterodroma mollis
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Breeding range
- Southern Hemisphere islands (Tristan da Cunha, Gough, Prince Edward, Crozet, Macquarie, Antipodes, Maatsuyker Island Group)
- Non-breeding range
- Eastern South America, southern Africa, Australia
- Vagrant records
- Norway, Jordan
- Plumage
- Dark grey and white; dark morph also exists
- Bill length
- 25–32 mm
Lore & Background
The soft-plumaged petrel is a medium-sized petrel with narrow wings and a pointed tail distinct in flight. Its head is dark grey with prominent white feathers on the cheeks and throat, white speckling on the forehead, and a prominent dark eye patch. The underside is mostly white, turning dark grey at the underwings. The bill is black, 25–32 mm long, and has a sharp hook. Legs are pink with black on the outer webs and toes. A dark morph also exists.
Reader's Guide
The soft-plumaged petrel is significant as a widespread Southern Hemisphere seabird that breeds on remote islands and disperses across multiple oceans. Its taxonomy is notable because Fea's petrel, Desertas petrel, and Zino's petrel of the North Atlantic were formerly treated as subspecies of this bird, highlighting historical taxonomic uncertainty. The species has occurred as a vagrant in Norway and Jordan, indicating its occasional long-distance movements. Its vocalizations—medium-pitched moans and shrill squeaks—are characteristic of both sexes. The existence of a dark morph adds to its biological interest. Understanding its distribution and breeding sites helps in conservation planning for these island ecosystems.
Did You Know?
- The soft-plumaged petrel breeds on islands including Tristan da Cunha, Gough, Prince Edward, Crozet, Macquarie, and the Antipodes Islands.
- It has occurred as a vagrant in Norway and Jordan.
- Fea's petrel, Desertas petrel, and Zino's petrel were formerly treated as subspecies of this bird.
- Both sexes make medium-pitched moans and shrill squeaks.
More in Birds of subantarctic islands 1-24
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