- Common Name: Snow Petrel
- Scientific Name: Pagodroma nivea
- Date Taken: January 19, 2001
- Location: Fortuna Bay, South Georgia
- Photographer: Howard Cunningham
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Snow petrels are part of the family Procellariidae, which includes various species of petrels and shearwaters.
Snow petrels are well-adapted to the harsh Antarctic environment, where they endure extreme cold temperatures and
harsh weather conditions. They are predominantly white, which helps them blend in with the snowy surroundings,
providing them with camouflage against predators. They are true Antarctic seabirds, and their breeding
colonies are found on the continent and surrounding ice-free islands. They nest on rocky cliffs and steep slopes,
often in colonies with other seabirds. Their nests are simple scrapes in the rocky soil, and they usually lay
one or two eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks. Snow petrels primarily
feed on krill, fish, and other small marine invertebrates. They forage over the open sea, often flying long
distances from their breeding colonies in search of food.
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