The Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus), or Antarctic giant petrel, is a massive seabird of the Southern Ocean, rivaling an albatross in size. Found from subantarctic islands to Antarctic coasts, it is both predator and scavenger, exploiting carcasses, seabirds, and fisheries waste. Two plumage morphs exist—dark and light—and, when threatened, it defends itself by ejecting rancid stomach oil, a trait that gave rise to its nickname, “stinker.”
For identification, Macronectes giganteus differs from M. halli by its pale green to olive bill tip (vs. reddish in halli) and its darker brown eyes (vs. pale yellow or grayish).
• Petrel gigante del sur, Abanto marino antártico
• Southern giant petrel, Antarctic giant petrel
• Petrélao-gigante-do-sul
Scientific classification:
Superdomain: Neomura
Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Opisthokonta
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
(unranked): Bilateria
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Tetrapoda
Clade: Amniota
Clade: Diapsida
Clade: Archosauria
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Clade: Neoaves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Macronectes
Species: M. giganteus
Pelagic waters off the coast of Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay (35.1073°S, 54.9380°W)
Camera: Canon EOS 77D / 9000D
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
Capture Information:
Focal Length: 347.0 mm
Shutter Speed: 1/500
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO: 640
Photo Taken: July 19, 2025
High resolution
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