White-headed Petrel

White-headed petrel is a large gadfly petrel with a white head, grey back and dark eye patch, breeding on New Zealand’s subantarctic islands. The white head and underparts, grey upperparts and dark patch around the eye contrast with a black bill. Mottled petrel has a darker cap and more strongly patterned underwing.

It breeds on the Auckland and Antipodes islands and ranges widely across deep southern waters, sometimes reaching mainland New Zealand seas. Birds make high arcs in strong wind and feed mainly on squid and crustaceans. They nest in burrows and return ashore after dark.

White-headed petrel is Not Threatened (NZ Threat Classification). Cats and pigs kill birds on Auckland Island, while light attraction can affect fledglings. Subantarctic expedition voyages provide the best sightings; mainland pelagic records are irregular.