Threats include introduced rats, feral cats, pigs, dogs, nickel mining, and light pollution.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyShearwaters and Petrels
SizeMedium
RarityUncommon
HabitatPelagic; mostly offshore and over open ocean, occasionally seen from coastal headlands during passage.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from February.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Nicolas Delelis
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
3359approx records
2states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Look for the combination of very long narrow wings and a heavy bill. Flight style is typically rather relaxed with slow powerful wingbeats. Breeds on islands in the South Pacific.
Behavior
Found over warm tropical waters, where it can be seen singly or in loose groups with other seabirds over productive feeding areas.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Queensland
Western Australia
Victoria
Commonly confused with
Cook's PetrelPterodroma cookiiFlight varies from low and weaving, into the wind, to high and arcing across the wind. Note gray cap and upperparts with dark M pattern across upperwings and dark tail tip. Underparts are white with very narrow black margins to wings. Many birds off Mexican coast are in wing molt.→Bulwer's PetrelBulweria bulweriiIt is entirely dark brown except for diagonal buff-colored bars on the upper wings. The flight is usually low over the water, with fewer high arcs than other petrels. Commonly seen offshore from boats and sometimes from shore.→White-necked PetrelPterodroma cervicalisThe underwings are mostly white. Similar to Juan Fernandez Petrel, but the black cap is separated from the gray back by a broad white collar. Migrates through Hawaiian waters. mostly from the late summer through spring. Rare in Hawaii, but observed more often in the western end of the Archipelago.→