- Procellaria westlandica
Identification
50–55 cm (19¾-21½ in)
- Sooty-black overall plumage
- Greyish undersides primary bases and coverts
- Yellowish black-tipped bill
- Black legs and feet
Juveniles have a paler bill.
Distribution
South Island, New Zealand; disperses to Australia, Tasmania and western South America.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
They breed in coastal forests, feeding offshore. Mostly pelagic when not breeding.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes fish, squid and other cephalopods and some crustaceans.
Breeding
They nest in burrows within forested areas. They start breeding in the winter (March/April).
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Sept 2018)
- Dept of Conservation, New Zealand
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Westland Petrel. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Westland_Petrel
