Has a large and distinctive hooked beak, hence called sea vulture. It has a fierce looking appearance. Giants petrels will attack and eat smaller species of seabirds. They are also generally scavengers and are frequently seen around floating seal and whales. They also naturally feed on squid.
Southern giants breed on ice free islands around the Antarctic continent.
Mainly a winter and spring visitor to New Zealand waters from more southern latitudes. Rarely seen off Kaikoura, usually one or two birds. The same size as the Southern Giant. Has a more laboured flight and tends to flap more than the albatrosses which are more efficient gliders. Adult birds have a brownish tip to their beaks, hence distinguishable from the Southern giant.