Chatham Petrel (Pterodroma axillaris)

About the Chatham Petrel

The Chatham Islands petrel (Pterodroma axillaris), also known as the Chatham petrel or ranguru (Māori), is a medium-sized, grey, white and black gadfly petrel. It only breeds on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, and until recently was restricted to the 218-hectare Rangatira or South-East Island. The Chatham Islands petrel is a medium-sized petrel with a mottled dark-grey and white forehead, dark grey back and upper wings, and white underparts. A black diagonal bar extends from the leading edge of underwing to a black 'armpit'. The shoulders and upper-wing coverts are a deeper grey giving a dark M pattern across the spread upper wings. The bill is black and strongly hooked tip. The eye is dark, and the legs and feet are pink, with dark outer toes and webs. The sexes are alike.