Black-bellied Storm Petrel

Takahikare-rangi is a black-and-white storm petrel marked by a dark stripe running down its otherwise white belly. The white rump and underparts are divided by a solid black belly line, and the dark feet extend beyond the tail. Wilson’s storm petrel is smaller and entirely dark below except for its rump.

It breeds on subantarctic islands around the Southern Ocean and is a regular visitor to deep waters south and east of New Zealand. Birds patter and hover for crustaceans, small fish and squid and nest in burrows, laying one egg.

Black-bellied storm petrel is Not Threatened (NZ Threat Classification). Introduced predators can eliminate colonies where they reach breeding islands. Southern offshore trips and subantarctic voyages offer the best chance; mainland views are pelagic rather than coastal.