Birds of the World

Procellariidae : Petrels & Shearwaters

Black Petrel / Parkinson's Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Black Petrel (right) with Cook's Petrel (left)
Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand - November 2005

Black Petrel are endemic to New Zealand and currently only breed on Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands. They suffered a large population decline in the 1970's, with 100% of the chicks (as well as several adults) on Little Barrier Island being killed by introduced rats and cats in 1974 and 1975. Since the eradication of the non-native predators in 1980, the colony is slowly recovering and the total population is now about 3000-4000 birds.