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The Cape Petrel (Daption capense) is sometimes also called Pintado Petrel or Cape Pigeon. It is a very common seabird of the cold southern oceans around Antarctica as well as nearby sub-antarctic islands. It is one of the first Antarctic birds that visitors see when traveling to this region. Flocks of Cape Petrels seem to appear out of nowhere and begin circling a ship almost as if they enjoy it. The flock in the image on the right was circling our ship while we were in the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica, in January, 1996. The first 14 images on this page are all scanned slides which are not up to modern digital image standards, but until I am fortunate enough to return to this part of the world, these are the images I have of this species.
The next two shots show a Cape Petrel on a nest on a rocky ledge at Whaler's Bay, Deception Island, Antarctica, in January, 1996.
The Cape Petrel on the right was on a nest on Coronation Island, South Orkneys, Antarctica, in January, 1996.

The dorsal and ventral view of Cape Petrels in flight in the next two shots were taken near Elephant Island, Antarctica, in January, 1996.
The Cape Petrel on the right was following our ship in the Scotia Sea between South Georgia and the Falklands in January, 1996.
The next three shots were taken in January, 1998, at Deception Island, Antarctica and show Cape Petrels at the nest with a chick.
The two Cape Petrels in flight on the right were near Elephant Island, Antarctica, in January, 2000.
The flock of Cape Petrels on the right and the single bird in the next image were near Smith Island, Antarctica, in January, 2001.
The two Cape Petrels in flight on the right were in the Southern Ocean, just north of the Ross Sea, in December, 2001.