Cape PetrelDaption capenseWhere and when to see them

The Cape petrel is a boldly patterned Southern Ocean seabird, familiar for its black-and-white chequered back and brisk flight. Despite its alternative name, Cape pigeon, it belongs to the tubenosed seabirds rather than the pigeons. It breeds on rocky Antarctic and subantarctic coasts, then ranges widely at sea. Its striking plumage is unusually consistent between males and females, making behaviour and setting more useful than appearance for interpreting individual birds.

Size

35-40 cm long; 80-90 cm wingspan

Weight

340-480 g

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Cape petrels frequently gather around concentrations of food, sometimes joining noisy mixed flocks with other seabirds. They take food at the surface and may make short plunges. On breeding ledges, pairs defend small territories with calls, postures and, when threatened, accurately directed stomach oil. Adults share incubation and chick care. Outside the breeding season they disperse widely, using winds to alternate low glides with quick wingbeats above the waves. Cape petrels are highly social birds, often seen in large feeding aggregations and breeding colonies. They have a buoyant, erratic flight characterized by alternating glides and short, rapid wingbeats. Courtship rituals include mutual preening and head-nodding displays at the nest site.

• It is the only living species in the genus Daption.
• A breeding pair normally lays a single egg.
• Its defensive stomach oil also serves as an energy-rich food reserve.
• The name Cape pigeon refers to its appearance, not its evolutionary relationships.

November through March offers the main Antarctic visitor window, with breeding activity concentrated in the austral summer. December and January can overlap incubation and chick rearing, depending on locality. Weather, sea ice and route choices strongly influence opportunities for distant observation. Early December through February is ideal for observing active colonies with both adults and chicks present. The presence of pack ice in some areas can lead to excellent viewing opportunities from the ship's deck. Breeding typically commences in late November, with eggs laid through early December.

Breeding habitat consists of exposed rocky ledges, cliffs and stony slopes on Antarctic and subantarctic islands and coasts. Away from nests, Cape petrels occupy cold ocean waters, including continental shelves, frontal zones and the margins of seasonal sea ice. The species breeds on several subantarctic islands including the South Sandwich, South Orkney, South Shetland, and Bouvet Islands. During the non-breeding season, Cape petrels are pelagic, often found over the continental shelf and slope waters further north. They often roost on icebergs when at sea.

Krill and other crustaceans form much of the diet, supplemented by small fish, squid and carrion. Birds also exploit food brought near the surface by other predators. The balance varies with location, season and the availability of concentrated prey. They are opportunistic feeders, often observed scavenging behind fishing vessels and around whale carcasses. The distinct black and white plumage makes them easily identifiable when foraging at sea. Their diet composition can also include amphipods and small cephalopods.

Common name

Cape Petrel

Scientific name

Daption capense

Animal group

Birds

Size

35-40 cm long; 80-90 cm wingspan

Weight

340-480 g

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Identification

Its sharply chequered black-and-white upperparts distinguish the Cape petrel from the mostly uniform Antarctic petrel and the all-white snow petrel. Their medium size, about 39 cm (15 inches) in length, helps differentiate them from larger albatrosses and smaller storm petrels. The white underparts with a dark throat patch are also a key feature. They have a distinctive white patch at the base of the primary feathers, visible in flight.