Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata)

Order: Procellariformes | Family: Procellariidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

broad-billed_prion
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Sea of New Zealand

broad-billed_prion
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Sea of New Zealand

broad-billed_prion
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Sea of New Zealand

broad-billed_prion
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Sea of New Zealand


Identification & Behavior: ~27 cm (11 in). The Broad-billed Prion has bluish-gray upperparts with a black “M” pattern on the back. The throat and rest of the underparts are white. The forehead and crown are dusky. The face is white with a black mask across the eye, which gives the impression of having a white superciliary. The tail is concolor with the back and has a black terminal band. The underwing is also white. The bill is thick and broad. It is very similar to the Antartic Prion but is distinguished by having a dusky forehead and crown and thicker and broader bill. Also, Slender-billed Prion.

Status: The Broad-billed Prion is known only from a carcass washed ashore in Arequipa. It has never been seen alive in Peruvian coast. It also occurs in Br.

Name in Spanish: Petrel-Azul de Pico Ancho.

Sub-species: Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata), (G. Forster), 1777.

Meaning of Name: Pachyptila: Gr. pakhus= dense, thick and ptilon= feather, plumage. vittata: L. vittatus, vita= banded, ribboned.

See more of the Family Procellariidae  peru aves

Distribution Mapbroad-billed prion
Voice
Generally silent at sea.


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 03/01/2017.