WESTLAND PETREL

Photographed off Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

(*  1254)                  WESTLAND PETREL                 Procellaria westlandica

NEW ZEALAND             109

Uncommon endemic. About 4000 pairs breed only in the forested coastal foothills of the Paparoa Range between Barrytown and Punakaiki, West Coast, South Island. In breeding season seen mainly off east coast, Cook Strait and West Coast but ranges west to Australia; migrates to central or eastern South Pacific.

WESTLAND PETREL

Photographed on Eaglehawk pelagic, Tasmania, June 2018

1254                      WESTLAND PETREL               Procellaria westlandica

AUSTRALIA                 749

Also known as Westland Black Petrel. Large member of petrel family. Majority of life spent at sea but breeds in forests of west coast of South Island New Zealand. Nocturnal and hunt at night, preying on fish, squid and crustaceans.