Blue Petrel

Blue petrel is a small, compact seabird with blue-grey upperparts, a black M across the wings and a white-tipped tail. A white forehead and eyebrow, dark cap and conspicuous white tail tip distinguish it from prions, whose tails end in black. The bill is short and dark rather than blue-grey and broad.

It breeds on southern ocean islands and occurs in deep subantarctic water south of New Zealand as a migrant. Flocks feed on krill, amphipods, fish and squid, often making shallow dives; pairs nest in burrows and visit land at night.

Blue petrel is a Migrant under the NZ Threat Classification. Cats and rats damage colonies elsewhere, and birds may be caught in fisheries. Subantarctic and Antarctic voyages offer the best chance; it is unusual around mainland New Zealand.