The two remaining Procellaria are both New Zealand endemics and difficult to separate at sea.
However both breeding and dispersal are very different, moult timing in particular being helpful. This species breeds on Great and Little Barrier Islands
in the austral summer, and disperses to seas off Central America, generally as far south as Ecuador and the Galapagos, where immatures may
remain year-round. Generally smaller than Westland with a dusky bill-tip, and a small rounded head giving a more "benign" appearence. Listed as
vulnerable because of low numbers and 95% of the population breeding on one island, it formerly bred on North Island but was probably extirpated by
introduced possums.
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HOMEPAGE
