Birds diurnal

Spectacled Petrel

Procellaria conspicillata

A rare gem of the South Atlantic, the Spectacled Petrel is named for the striking white bands that circle its eyes. Nesting only on one remote island in the world, this resilient voyager is one of the ocean's most mysterious residents.

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Quick Identification

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Size

55 cm (22 in) in length, 145 cm (57 in) wingspan, weighing approximately 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs)

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Colors

Dark sooty-brown to blackish plumage with distinctive white bands across the cheeks and crown; pale greenish-yellow bill with a black tip.

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Key Features

Distinctive white 'spectacles' or facial bands
Large, pale-yellow bill with dark tip
Uniformly dark sooty-brown body plumage
Sturdy, robust build for a petrel

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours Active throughout the day at sea; nocturnal (10 PM - 4 AM) at breeding sites

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Season October to March (Breeding season)

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Diet A generalist carnivore that eats squid, small fish, and crustaceans. They are also significant scavengers, frequently following longline fishing boats for discards.

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Habitat Pelagic (open ocean) throughout the South Atlantic; nests exclusively in the high, boggy plateaus and wet heathlands of Inaccessible Island.

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Behavior

The Spectacled Petrel is a master of the open ocean, spending the vast majority of its life riding the wind currents of the South Atlantic. While they are solitary hunters at sea, they are known to gather in large numbers behind fishing vessels, where they boldly compete for offal. They use dynamic soaring—a flight technique that involves staying low to the waves to conserve energy—allowing them to travel thousands of miles without a single flap of their wings.

During the breeding season, these birds return to the remote Inaccessible Island, where they display a much more secretive side. To avoid the watchful eyes of predatory skuas, they become strictly nocturnal on land, flying to and from their burrows only under the cover of pitch darkness. Within the colony, they are surprisingly vocal, using a series of rattling calls and low moans to communicate with mates and defend their underground nesting sites.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Spectacled Petrel on camera is a challenge reserved for the most dedicated wildlife enthusiasts or those living near South Atlantic maritime routes. Because these birds nest in deep burrows on a single remote island, 'backyard' sightings are non-existent unless your backyard is a ship's deck. For monitoring at nesting sites, place your AI camera roughly 12 inches off the ground, pointed directly at the burrow entrance. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the bird's full wingspan as it lands, which can be quite awkward and dramatic given their size.

Lighting is your biggest hurdle. Since they are nocturnal on land, you must use a camera with high-quality infrared (no-glow) sensors. Standard white flashes will likely spook the birds and could lead to burrow abandonment or attract predators. Set your camera to a high sensitivity for motion, as petrels move quickly when they drop from the sky to avoid detection. A burst mode of 3-5 photos per trigger is recommended to ensure you get a clear shot of the white facial markings, which are the primary way to distinguish them from their cousins.

If you are attempting to capture them from a boat or coastal vantage point, use a 'trail cam' approach with a very fast trigger speed (under 0.2 seconds). The salt air is extremely corrosive, so ensure your camera is housed in a secondary waterproof, marine-grade casing. Position the camera at the stern if on a vessel, as these birds are notorious 'wake-followers.' Time your recording for the early morning hours when the light is soft, but the birds are most active in their foraging flights.

Lastly, consider the seasonal timing. Between November and January, the adults are most active as they provide food for their chicks. During this window, the frequency of trips back to the nest increases, providing more opportunities for your AI camera to trigger. Avoid using any artificial lures or food baits at nesting sites, as this can disrupt the delicate ecosystem of Inaccessible Island and put the birds at risk of predation by non-native species.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Spectacled Petrel.

White-chinned Petrel

Very similar in size and shape but lacks the white facial bands, having only a small white patch on the chin.

Great-winged Petrel

Features a much stouter, black bill and lacks the white facial markings and pale bill of the Spectacled Petrel.

Frequently Asked Questions

At sea, they are diurnal and most active during daylight hours while foraging. However, at their breeding colonies on Inaccessible Island, they are strictly nocturnal to avoid predators, typically arriving at their burrows after sunset.

Because they are pelagic seabirds that nest on a single remote island in the South Atlantic, it is impossible to attract them to a typical suburban backyard. They are best viewed from research vessels or during specialized pelagic birding tours.

Their diet primarily consists of squid, crustaceans, and small fish caught near the surface. They are also well-known for scavenging offal and discards from commercial fishing vessels.

No, they are never found in suburban areas. Their entire population is restricted to the open waters of the South Atlantic and their singular breeding site on Inaccessible Island.

The most reliable way is to look for the white 'spectacles'—the bands across the face and crown. White-chinned Petrels lack these facial bands and typically only have a small white patch under the bill.

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