Cape Pigeons
 - Daption capensis

Back to gallery    |  Previous  |  Next

Cape Pigeon - Daption capensis - Parent and Chick on Nest

Cape Pigeon - Daption capensis - Swimming


The Cape pigeon or Pintado, a pigeon sized petrel common around sub Antarctic islands and peninsula. They nest on rocky ledges and usually rear a single chick which looks particularly shape-less until it fledges. It used to remind me of a fluffy ball with a head just stuck on the front. The birds tend to feed in flocks on krill and small fish but also will scavenge on scraps discarded by skuas and giant petrels when feasting on floating seal carcasses.

Previous     Next


Photo; © Paul Ward - Pictures taken on Signy Island, South Orkneys, Antarctica.