© Christophe Gouraud
© Birdline Australia
© Nikki McArthur
© Fabrice Schmitt

Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila vittata

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Identification

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The largest of the six prion species, with an exceptionally wide bill that gives the head a chunky appearance. Occurs in dispersed flocks at sea, where it catches prey items either sitting on the water or skimming the surface for zooplankton. Can be seen around breeding colonies on the Chatham Islands, in southern New Zealand, and in the South Atlantic Ocean. The wide bill distinguishes this species from other prions apart from Salvin’s and MacGillivray's, which are smaller in overall size and have a narrower bill than the Broad-billed Prion. However this can be hard to see at sea, and identification of prions is often impossible without a good view or photograph.

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