Mottled Petrel

Pterodroma inexpectataOrder: PROCELLARIIFORMESFamily: Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)
Mottled Petrel Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Hooked Seabird
  • Eye color: Brown iris
  • Head Pattern: Eyeline, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown color: Gray
  • Forehead color: White, Black
  • Nape Color: Dark Gray
  • Throat color: White
  • Cere color:
Mottled Petrel Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 33-35 cm (13-14 in)
  • Weight: 314 g (11.1 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: White, Black, Gray
  • Underparts: White and gray.
  • Upperparts: White and gray.
  • Back Pattern: Solid, Scaled or Scalloped
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid, Scaled or Scalloped
Mottled Petrel Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Dashing flight., Alternates high soaring arcs and glides with rapid wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 68-83 cm (27-33 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Mottled
  • Upper Tail: Gray
  • Under Tail: White and gray.
  • Leg color: Gray
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Family Petrel (Procellariidae)_blue
Species Pterodroma inexpectata
Length13 - 14 Inches
Wingspan30 Inches

Mottled Petrel

Mottled Petrel: Medium-sized petrel, mostly gray with mottled white markings. Face is gray and white and, throat, upper breast, and undertail are white. Wings have distinct black bars on white undersides. Feeds on small squid and fish. Alternates high soaring arcs and gliding with rapid wing beats.

● Song: "ti-ti-ti"

● Foraging & Feeding: Mottled Petrel: Feeds on small squid and fish; does not follow ships.

● Breeding & nesting: Mottled Petrel: One white egg is laid on a pile of grass in a burrow or crevice. Incubation is carried out by both parents for 54 days.

● Similar species: Mottled Petrel: Cook's Petrel has white underparts, underwings, and outer tail feathers.

Flight Pattern

Dashing flight., Alternates high soaring arcs and glides with rapid wing beats.
Mottled Petrel Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Mottled Petrel: Breeds on islands off New Zealand. Spring and summer visitor to Bering Sea and cool northeastern Pacific; rarely south to Oregon and California. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationRare
MigrationMigratory
Weight11.1 Ounces