| New Zealand Storm-Petrel | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Oceanites maorianus |
The New Zealand Storm-Petrel, Oceanites maorianus, is a small seabird of the tubenose family. It is believed to be extinct, and was last sighted in 1850, although there were unconfirmed reports of sightings in January 2003. It was otherwise known only from three old skins in museums. 1, 2.
It may have been a subspecies of Wilson's Petrel. It nested in colonies close to the sea in rock crevices and laid a single white egg.
It spent the rest of the year at sea, and was pelagic outside the breeding season, and this, together with its remote breeding sites, made it a difficult bird to observe.
It has been believed to be extinct, and certainly has not been seen at at its known breeding sites, but on 17 November 2003 a boat trip looking for Black-bellied and White-faced Storm-Petrels discovered this petrel in a different area, off Great and Little Barrier Island, near New Zealand's North Island, with up to 20 birds present, suggesting an unknown colony.
This storm-petrel is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by gulls and skuas. Like most petrels, its walking ability was limited to a short shuffle to the burrow.
It spends the rest of the year at sea, and is pelagic outside the breeding season, and this, together with its remote breeding sites, makes this species a difficult bird to observe.
The New Zealand Petrel is a small bird, dark brown above, except for its white rump. The underparts are white with a black streak, and the feet project further back than the tail.
It differs from the commoner species, Wilson's Petrel, by its pale bar on the upper wing, plain underwings and longer legs.
External links