#antactic

Southern giant petrels(Macronectes giganteus)can be cannibalist, according to new findings. These petrels are common predators in austral islands around Antarctic Peninsula, scavending and preding on a wide ranges of preys, with highly opportunistic feeding habits, meaning these birds can eat whatever they can. On different dates, in monitored colonies at Nelson Island, two males were sighted feeding on the young of other pairs. The island is also inhabited by penguins, providing enough food to southern giant petrels, suggesting these males would not be  opportunistic cannibals. Researchers confirm that cannibalism is part of the behavior repertoire of male southern giant petrels, but have no clues about what push this behaviour.

• Photo:  A male Southern Giant Petrel feeds on a chick after removing it from its nest.
• Reference:Grohmann Finger et al. 2021. Cannibalism in southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus) at Nelson Island, Maritime Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biol

Photo description: A southern giant petrel eating a chick, surrounded by rocks.