About the Magenta Petrel
The magenta petrel, or Chatham Island tāiko, is a small seabird in the gadfly petrel genus, Pterodroma. Found exclusively on Chatham Island, New Zealand, it is one of the rarest birds in the world, believed to be extinct for over 100 years before its rediscovery in the 1970s.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
This medium-sized petrel has a brownish-grey head, neck, and upper breast, with white underparts. The undersides of the wings are brown. It has a black bill and pink legs. Adults weigh 400–580 g. The bird nests in 1–3 m long burrows under dense forest. They form long-term monogamous pair bonds, raising one egg at a time, and both partners incubate the egg and feed the chick. The breeding season is between September and May, during which time the birds forage over the open ocean.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Magenta Petrel lives
When to see the Magenta Petrel
Peak activity in December · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Henderson PetrelPterodroma atrataThe Henderson petrel is a ground-nesting species of gadfly petrel in the family Procellariidae.
Chatham Islands PetrelPterodroma axillarisThe 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.
Collared PetrelPterodroma brevipesThe collared petrel is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae.
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