The giant petrel is the only seabird of its family that walks on land

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known to sailors as the stinker or the glutton bird, the giant petrel is a formidable predator of the Southern Hemisphere. These aggressive birds are the only members of their family capable of walking on land, where they hunt penguin chicks and scavenge carcasses with a distinct, dominant posture.

The genus Macronectes, meaning great swimmer, comprises two living species: the northern giant petrel and the southern giant petrel. While they look remarkably like albatrosses, they are distinct in their anatomy. Their nostrils are joined on the top of their bills rather than separated on the sides, and their bills are composed of seven to nine horny plates. They are also unique among their kin for their ability to walk on land, supported by strong legs that allow them to dominate breeding colonies of seals and penguins.

Distinguishing between the two species is a challenge for even the keenest observers. The southern giant petrel, M. giganteus, is generally larger and features a pale green bill-tip, whereas the northern giant petrel, M. halli, has a reddish-pink bill-tip. Though they were long considered the same species, they were officially established as separate in 1966. Both species are highly opportunistic, feeding on krill, squid, and fish at sea, or scavenging waste from fishing vessels. They possess a specialized defense mechanism: a stomach oil rich in wax esters and triglycerides that they can spray at threats.

These birds are primarily restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, breeding on islands like South Georgia and the Kerguelen Islands. While the southern giant petrel nests as far south as Antarctica, their ranges overlap significantly. Interestingly, their conservation status has improved over time; once listed as near threatened in 2008, they have been classified as least concern by the IUCN since 2009 due to evidence of population growth. Despite this, they remain subject to local protections, such as being listed as endangered or vulnerable under Australian legislation.

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