The Southern Giant Petrel | Vulture of the Southern Ocean

For most guests, the first encounter with penguins in South Georgia is an unforgettable moment. Witnessing the massive colonies of seabirds on the island feels like stepping into another universe. 

While the incredible views of the animals in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands make them a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, not all these creatures are as friendly as the penguins. The southern giant petrel is another Antarctic seabird that has earned infamy in the earlier centuries as brutes and ogres. 

During the whaling industry, sailors feared these birds as they viciously attacked seamen who fell overboard. Even today, this southern giant petrel retains its reputation as a fierce predator.

Southern giant petrel habitat

Southern giant petrels are primarily found in ice-free coastal areas of Antarctica and the offshore rocks and cliffs on the islands of the Southern Ocean. These islands include South Georgia, Falkland Islands, South Shetland, South Orkney Islands, Staten Island, and Macquarie Island. 

These birds are also found in the subtropical belts of Chile, Africa, and Australia. Typically, females show a broader distribution pattern than males.

Diet and feeding

Southern giant petrels are both predators and scavengers, feeding on a wide range of prey including fish, krill, and squid. They’re also notorious for scavenging around penguin colonies, seal rookeries, and even ship waste, earning them the nickname 'vultures of the Southern Ocean'. 

These powerful birds are often seen tearing into seal or penguin carcasses left on beaches, sometimes alongside skuas. They even pick up dead penguins abandoned by leopard seals if they’ve been left uneaten, performing a vital role as nature’s clean-up crew. Thanks to their exceptional sense of smell — rare among birds — they can detect carrion from kilometers away.

As predators, they are aggressive and opportunistic, preying on smaller seabirds and penguin chicks in addition to marine life. Interestingly, females tend to forage more at sea, catching live prey, while males dominate the beaches, focusing on carrion.

Breeding and birthing rituals

The average breeding age for these petrels is around 7-8 years and the breeding season is mid-October. The nests are made from moss and grass, with a depression at the centre. Some pairs tend to return to the same nesting site year after year.

The female lays a single egg and the incubation period is between 55–66 days. After hatching, the chick is brooded by the parents for two to three weeks. Fledgling occurs between 104 and 132 days after hatching.

Lifespan of a southern giant petrel

In the wild, southern giant petrels have a lifespan of 20-30 years. However, studies carried out on Bird Island in South Georgia, suggest that these birds can live as long as 50 years. Their ability to adapt to both scavenging and predation, plus their wide range, has helped them remain one of the most successful seabirds in the Southern Ocean.

Where to see Southern giant petrel in the wild

Falkland Islands

In the Falkland Islands, Southern Giant Petrels are a common sight soaring over beaches and tussock-covered hillsides. They gather on sandy shores and grassy slopes at places like Sea Lion Island, Carcass Island, and West Point Island, where they squabble over carrion and rest among penguin and seal colonies.

South Georgia Island

On South Georgia, they patrol the beaches near the island’s vast king penguin and elephant seal rookeries, particularly at St Andrews Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour, and Prion Island, often seen competing with skuas and seals over carcasses or gliding low along the shore.

Antarctica

Around the South Shetland Islands, they breed on exposed rocky ridges and slopes, their eerie calls echoing across the windswept terrain. Wherever they appear, these imposing seabirds command attention as both predators and vital scavengers of the Southern Ocean.

Visiting South Georgia and the Falklands with Secret Atlas

South Georgia is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, home to millions of seabirds and marine mammals. These species are heavily protected, so it’s essential to respect local guidelines and follow your guide’s instructions.

Our small-ship expeditions to the Southern Ocean let you experience this wild region up close while minimising your impact on its fragile ecosystems. Every journey is thoughtfully planned but flexible enough to adapt to the conditions of these remote islands.

Get in touch to learn more about our South Georgia journeys.