This young bird is feeding on a skua. Giant petrels are unusual in that they sometimes feed on land. Males in particular are scavengers, tearing apart other birds, dead seals and whales with their immensely strong bill. They also feed at sea on fish, squid and crustaceans. They were more common around the mainland coasts when abattoirs and whaling stations dumped offal into the sea, but are still seen around Cook Strait as well as near offshore islands.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Department of Conservation
Reference:
10042147
Photograph by Bruce Dix
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