Fea's Petrel vs Cook's Petrel

Fea's Petrel

Pterodroma feae

How to recognise a fea's petrel?

General appearance

The Fea's Petrel is a medium-sized seabird characterized by its grey and white plumage. It has a distinctive dark grey back and wings with a contrasting white underside. The bird's head is also grey with a noticeable white forehead and a blackish crown. A dark eye patch extends behind the eyes, giving it a striking appearance. Its tail is short, and its bill is black, providing a sharp contrast against its lighter facial features.

Male vs female

In Fea's Petrel, there is minimal sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females look largely similar. Both sexes exhibit the same coloration and pattern on their plumage. However, size can be a distinguishing factor, with males slightly larger than females. Aside from this slight size differentiation, males and females are virtually indistinguishable in the field.

Juvenile

Juvenile Fea's Petrels resemble adults but have subtle differences in plumage. The grey feathers might appear slightly duller or paler compared to a glossy adult. Young birds may also exhibit softer facial markings until they mature. As they age, their coloration becomes more defined. Despite these differences, juveniles can still be identified by their characteristic grey and white appearance similar to adults.

Size

13.0 - 14.6 in/8.1 - 13.1 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Fea's Petrel predominantly prefers to inhabit the subtropical regions of the North Atlantic Ocean, particularly nesting on the rocky cliffs and offshore islets of Madeira and the Canary Islands. The species thrives in areas with abundant sea breezes and cooler ocean currents, providing optimal feeding grounds rich in squid and small fish.

Additional range

Apart from its primary breeding grounds, Fea’s Petrel can occasionally be encountered in unexpected open sea environments, driven by sporadic changes in ocean currents. While rare, sightings have been reported off the coasts of western Africa and southern Europe's Iberian Peninsula, illustrating its adaptability to varying maritime climates beyond its typical range.

Range Map

What do fea's petrels like to eat?

Natural Diet

The Fea's Petrel primarily feeds on a variety of marine organisms available in their wild habitats. This bird mainly relies on small fish and squid, which they catch by surface-seizing while gliding above the ocean's waves. The diet is complemented by crustaceans and other small marine invertebrates. The feeding habits of Fea's Petrels harmonize with the availability of prey, leading to minor seasonal variations. During breeding season, when their energy demands are higher, they may focus more on energy-rich food sources like squid, which also appear more abundant following particular oceanic currents and temperature changes.

Bird Feeders

Fea's Petrels are pelagic birds, spending most of their life in the open ocean; hence, they rarely visit traditional land-based bird feeders. In the unlikely event they venture near coastal regions or islands where feeders are set up, there might be limited interaction. They do not typically consume seeds, suet, or fruits, which are common offerings at bird feeders for terrestrial birds. Instead, they continue to demonstrate a strong preference for their natural marine diet, which is more challenging to provide outside of their natural habitats.

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Cook's Petrel

Pterodroma cookii

How to recognise a cook's petrel?

General appearance

Cook's Petrel is a medium-sized seabird featuring a streamlined body and long, slender wings. The plumage predominantly consists of striking blue-gray tones on the back and upper wings while the underparts are white, contributing to its distinct appearance. The bird's face exhibits a sharp contrast with a dark brown mask extending from the eyes to the beak. Its tail is short and wedge-shaped, maintaining a similar blue-gray coloring. The Petrel’s slender, black bill is perfectly adapted for its dietary habits in the wild.

Male vs female

Cook's Petrel shows minimal sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females look strikingly similar. Both sexes boast the same color patterns and body size, making it difficult to distinguish between them based solely on external characteristics.

Juvenile

Juveniles closely resemble adults but might possess slightly duller plumage and less defined facial markings. Their dark face mask may not be as prominent, and the contrast between the blue-gray upper parts and white underparts can appear less distinct. As they mature, the plumage becomes more vivid, attaining the characteristic features of adult Cook's Petrel. Juvenile birds are often less experienced fliers but gradually gain proficiency as they age.

Size

10.2 - 11.8 in/3.0 - 7.8 oz

Habitat

Cook's Petrel Habitat Description

Primary habitat - Cook's Petrel predominantly roams the open ocean, primarily inhabiting subtropical and temperate marine zones. They breed exclusively on few island sites in New Zealand, notably Little Barrier Island, breeding in burrows on forested ridges. This species favors the vast expanses of the South Pacific Ocean during non-breeding seasons, where they find ample food supply and minimal land-based threats. Additional range - Outside their primary range, Cook's Petrel has occasionally been observed in diverse climatic conditions such as the coastal waters of South America. These sightings suggest some adaptability to varying environments, albeit infrequently.

Range Map

What do cook's petrels like to eat?

Natural diet

Cook's Petrel, primarily a marine bird, has a diet that revolves around the rich resources of the ocean. These birds feed mostly on small fish, cephalopods like squid, and various crustaceans found in offshore waters. Their dietary patterns may shift slightly with seasonal changes, as they tend to follow the distribution of prey that is most readily available. These petrels are foraging experts, using their sharp beaks to catch agile fish and their keen eyesight to spot prey in surface waters.

Bird feeders

Given their nature as seabirds, Cook's Petrels do not typically visit bird feeders. They thrive in open ocean environments and are adept at capturing their preferred marine food sources, making traditional feeder foods like seeds, suet, and fruits largely unsuitable. Birdwatchers may admire their flying prowess over oceans but won't typically encounter them at feeders in gardens or parks. To attract more common feeder-friendly birds, offering foods like black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, or nectar may yield more success.

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Fea's Petrel

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Cook's Petrel

Fea's Petrel

Pterodroma feae

General appearance

The Fea's Petrel is a medium-sized seabird characterized by its grey and white plumage. It has a distinctive dark grey back and wings with a contrasting white underside. The bird's head is also grey with a noticeable white forehead and a blackish crown. A dark eye patch extends behind the eyes, giving it a striking appearance. Its tail is short, and its bill is black, providing a sharp contrast against its lighter facial features.

Male vs female

In Fea's Petrel, there is minimal sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females look largely similar. Both sexes exhibit the same coloration and pattern on their plumage. However, size can be a distinguishing factor, with males slightly larger than females. Aside from this slight size differentiation, males and females are virtually indistinguishable in the field.

Juvenile

Juvenile Fea's Petrels resemble adults but have subtle differences in plumage. The grey feathers might appear slightly duller or paler compared to a glossy adult. Young birds may also exhibit softer facial markings until they mature. As they age, their coloration becomes more defined. Despite these differences, juveniles can still be identified by their characteristic grey and white appearance similar to adults.

Size

13.0 - 14.6 in/8.1 - 13.1 oz

There's more to learn about Fea's Petrel

View full details

Cook's Petrel

Pterodroma cookii

General appearance

Cook's Petrel is a medium-sized seabird featuring a streamlined body and long, slender wings. The plumage predominantly consists of striking blue-gray tones on the back and upper wings while the underparts are white, contributing to its distinct appearance. The bird's face exhibits a sharp contrast with a dark brown mask extending from the eyes to the beak. Its tail is short and wedge-shaped, maintaining a similar blue-gray coloring. The Petrel’s slender, black bill is perfectly adapted for its dietary habits in the wild.

Male vs female

Cook's Petrel shows minimal sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females look strikingly similar. Both sexes boast the same color patterns and body size, making it difficult to distinguish between them based solely on external characteristics.

Juvenile

Juveniles closely resemble adults but might possess slightly duller plumage and less defined facial markings. Their dark face mask may not be as prominent, and the contrast between the blue-gray upper parts and white underparts can appear less distinct. As they mature, the plumage becomes more vivid, attaining the characteristic features of adult Cook's Petrel. Juvenile birds are often less experienced fliers but gradually gain proficiency as they age.

Size

10.2 - 11.8 in/3.0 - 7.8 oz

There's more to learn about Cook's Petrel

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How to tell the Fea's Petrel from the Cook's Petrel

Visual differences

Fea's Petrel is larger (13-14.5 inches, 8.1-13 ounces) with a gray head, dark gray back, and white underside, featuring a distinct dark eye patch and short bill. Cook's Petrel is smaller (10-12 inches, 3-7.8 ounces), with blue-gray upper parts and white underside, a prominent dark brown face mask, and a slender bill. Cook's has longer wings, while Fea's has a more contrasting plumage. Both have short tails but differ in color: Fea's tail is gray, and Cook's is blue-gray.

Key differences and behavior

Fea's Petrel and Cook's Petrel, both expert navigators, display distinct behaviors. Fea's Petrel breeds on remote North Atlantic islands like Madeira, utilizing rocky crevices, while Cook's Petrel nests on forested ridges in New Zealand's islands. They both demonstrate monogamy and intricate courtship with synchronized flights, yet Fea’s Petrel opts for steep cliffs over Cook's forested slopes. In diet, both pursue marine prey but differ in location; Fea's Petrel surface-seizes squid and fish in the North Atlantic, whereas Cook's forages in the Pacific. Though similar in sexual appearance, they differ in size; Fea's is larger at 13-14 inches compared to Cook's at 10-12 inches. These habits reflect their adaptation to distinct oceanic ecologies.