Westland Petrel
NameWestland Petrel
Common NameWestland Petrel
Scientific NameProcellaria westlandica
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)135
Length (cm)53
Weight (g)1000
Plumage DetailsEntirely sooty-brown to blackish plumage, appearing uniformly dark. The bill is pale yellowish-horn with a distinct black tip and black along the cutting edges.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include harsh, guttural croaks and cackles, particularly at night around their breeding colonies. They also produce a distinctive 'kek-kek-kek' call.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, forest
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds exclusively on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand, primarily in the Paparoa Range. Disperses widely across the Tasman Sea and into Australian waters during the non-breeding season.
Identifying Featureslarge size, dark sooty-brown plumage, pale yellowish bill with black tip, no white markings, tubular nostrils on bill
Description
A large, dark-plumaged seabird known for its powerful flight over the open ocean. It breeds exclusively in burrows within coastal forests of New Zealand, returning to sea to forage for marine prey.
