Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) and Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli) tearing apart an Antarctic fur seal pup in the water at Grytviken on South Georgia, Southern Atlantic Ocean The giant petrels are two large seabirds from the genus Macronectes, with overlap of distribution here on South Georgia. Long considered to be conspecific (they were not established as separate species until 1966), the two species, the Southern Giant Petrel (M. giganteus) and Northern Giant Petrel (M. halli) are the largest members of the petrel family, Procellariidae, and considered, with the two fulmars to form a distinct sub-group within the petrels. Both species are restricted to the southern hemisphere, and though the ranges overlap greatly, notably in South Georgia, the Southern Giant Petrel nests further south, with colonies on Antarctica. Giant petrels are aggressive predators and scavengers, which has led to the other common name they were known as, the Stinker, and the whalers used to call them gluttons. The Southern Giant Petrel is slightly larger at 3.8-8 kg (8.4-17.6 lbs), 180-210 cm (71-83 in) across the wings and 86-100 cm (33-40 in). They superficially resemble the albatross, and are the only procellarids who can equal them in size.

Credit to: BluePlanetArchive / Michael S. Nolan

Image dimensions: 5400x3596