Plumage is highly variable (white-bodied and white-headed, dark-headed, or wholly dark), but all types have a white flash on the wingtip, including diagnostic white feather shafts on upperwing, which enhance this petrel’s resemblance to jaegers and skuas.
At a glance
Sounds
Range map
Range map
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
Indeed, sometimes Kermadec Petrels chase and pirate other petrels, as do jaegers and skuas. Herald Petrel is very similar, but is smaller and slimmer with a longer and more tapered tail, and lacks white shafts on upperwings.
Behavior
Ranges widely over tropical and subtropical ocean, taking prey near the surface and returning to remote islands to nest.
Gallery