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