Southern Giant Petrel

Pāngurunguru is an enormous petrel with a heavy pale bill and wings approaching small-albatross proportions. Adults have a greenish bill tip and mottled grey-brown plumage; some become almost entirely white. Northern giant petrel has a reddish bill tip and is usually darker.

It breeds around Antarctica and subantarctic islands and visits New Zealand waters, especially the south and east, as a migrant. It scavenges seal and penguin carcasses, takes fishery waste and also kills smaller seabirds; strong legs allow it to walk efficiently on land.

Southern giant petrel is a Migrant under the NZ Threat Classification. Fisheries interactions, marine debris and disturbance at colonies are documented threats. Pelagic trips off Kaikōura, Otago and subantarctic expedition routes may encounter birds, particularly in cooler months.