Hall's Giant-Petrel (Macronectes halli) also known as Northern Giant Petrel

Hall's Giant-Petrel
Macronectes halli

The *Hall's Giant-Petrel (Macronectes halli)*, also known as Northern Giant-Petrel by some authors, is a circumpolar resident of the southern oceans. It does not occur as far south as the closely related Antarctic Giant-Petrel, but Hall's can be quite common as far south as the island of South Georgia in the Scotia Sea. Unlike the similar Antarctic (also known as Southern) Giant-Petrel, this species does not have a pure white morph, but very pale individuals can occur. Note the reddish-tipped bill which distinguishes this species from Antarctic or Southern Giant-Petrel. The first two photos were taken in January, 2005, in South Georgia. These birds were fighting over an Antarctic Fur Seal carcass that was mostly submerged. The battle between these birds went on for at least fifteen minutes. Following are some flight shots of a Hall's Giant-Petrel, also taken in January, 2005, between the Falklands and South Georgia, All these shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 70-200mm F/2,8 L IS lens and a 2X extender.