Grey Petrel

Kuia is a large grey-and-white petrel with a long pale bill, breeding during winter on New Zealand’s subantarctic islands. Grey upperparts and hood contrast with white belly and underwing, and the long pale bill is slimmer than a giant petrel’s. Soft-plumaged petrel is smaller with a shorter black bill.

It breeds on the Antipodes and Campbell island groups and ranges widely through deep southern waters, sometimes reaching mainland coasts. Kuia take squid and fish, often by deep dives, and lay one egg in a burrow during the austral winter.

Grey petrel is At Risk — Relict (NZ Threat Classification). Longline bycatch and introduced predators at colonies are the principal threats. Subantarctic voyages and southern pelagic trips offer the best chance, particularly in winter.