Chatham Island Taiko

Tāiko is a dark-hooded endemic petrel rediscovered in 1978 after it had been presumed extinct. Only a small population survives. A large dark head and neck contrast with white belly and undertail, while the underwings remain dark grey. Soft-plumaged petrel has paler cheeks and usually an M-shaped upperwing mark.

It breeds only in peaty forest up to 5 km inland on the southern tablelands of main Chatham Island, then ranges across the Pacific to South America. Tāiko return to burrows on dark, wet nights and climb trees to launch for sea; fish and squid are the main known foods.

Chatham Island tāiko is Threatened — Nationally Critical (NZ Threat Classification). Cats, rats, pigs, possums, weka and inbreeding threaten the few known breeding burrows. Breeding land is protected and not a public viewing site; rare at-sea sightings occur south of the Chatham Islands.