The
blue petrel (
Halobaena caerulea) is a small seabird in the family
Procellariidae, the only member of its genus. It is distributed across the
Southern Ocean but breeds at only six known sites, all close to the
Antarctic Convergence zone. Its
plumage is predominantly blue-grey, with an "M" banding across its top, which is similar to that of the closely-related
prion. It also has a white-tipped tail. The blue petrel is 28 cm (11 in) in length with a wing span of 66 cm (26 in), and feeds predominantly on krill as well as other crustaceans, fish, and squid.
Photograph: JJ Harrison