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Macronectes

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Also known as Giant petrel

genus of birds

Species

GENUS

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassAves
  4. OrderProcellariiformes
  5. FamilyProcellariidae
Habitatmarine
Observations recorded183,111

via GBIF

Wikidata facts

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Antarctic, Giant petrel (js) 55.jpg
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Commons category
Macronectes
taxon name
Macronectes
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via Wikidata · CC0

~8 min read

Article

Giant petrels form a genus, Macronectes, from the family Procellariidae, which consists of two living and one extinct species. They are the largest birds in this family, and the only member that is capable of walking on land. The genus is likely restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. Giant petrels are extremely aggressive predators and scavengers, inspiring another common name, the stinker. Seamen and whalers also referred to the giant petrel as the molly-hawk, gong, glutton bird and nelly.

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