Adult has dark crown and nape that contrast with gray back, wings, and tail. Dark M-shaped pattern on upperwings. Uniformly dark tail lacks white outer feathers. Underparts are mostly white with narrow black leading and trailing edge on underwings. At rest, white flanks show above waterline. The face has a white forehead and throat, dark smudge around eye, and narrow black bill. Mottled Petrel is mostly gray below, has a weak white supercilium, and strong black bars on underwings. Cook's Petrel is slightly paler above and lacks contrasting hood. Also compare Buller's Shearwater.

Length: 25 (cm) Wingspan: 66 (cm)

Habitat:

Open ocean, rarely seen from shore.

Behavior:

Nests colonially in burrows among island fern forests. Visits nest site at night. Threatened by introduced animals such as rats and cats. Strong flier over water.

Feeding:

Picks food from ocean's surface. Eats mostly squid and fish.