The common name does not indicate relationship beyond that point, as "petrels" occur in three of the four families within that group (all except the albatross family, Diomedeidae). Having a fossil record that was assumed to extend back at least 60 million years, the Procellariiformes was long considered to be among the older bird groupings, other than the ratites, with presumably distant ties to penguins and loons. However, recent research and fossil finds such as Vegavis show that the Galliformes (pheasants, grouse and relatives), and Anseriformes (ducks, geese) are still not fully resolved. Learn more about Petrel and shearwater
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Petrel and Shearwater Species Videos
View All Petrel and Shearwater Videos
Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Antarctic Petrel (1 videos) | Thalassoica antarctica | Least concern |
Cape Petrel (1 videos) | Daption capense | Least concern |
Cory's Shearwater (42 videos) | Calonectris diomedea | Least concern |
European Storm-petrel (2 videos) | Hydrobates pelagicus | Least concern |
Hawaiian Petrel (15 videos) | Pterodroma sandwichensis | Endangered |
Manx Shearwater (3 videos) | Puffinus puffinus | Not Available |
Northern Fulmar (34 videos) | Fulmarus glacialis | Least concern |
Northern Giant Petrel (10 videos) | Macronectes halli | Least concern |
Sooty Shearwater (14 videos) | Puffinus griseus | Not Available |
Southern Giant Petrel (6 videos) | Macronectes giganteus | Least concern |
Wedge-rumped Storm Petrel (2 videos) | Oceanodroma tethys | Not Available |
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (1 videos) | Puffinus pacificus | Not Available |