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MarineCavity nestLarge · 445 g
ID tip
This species resembles the Vanuatu petrel, P. occulta, but is slightly larger at 43 cm (17 in) in length, 95–105 cm (37–41 in) in wing span and 380–545 g (13.4–19.2 oz) in weight. It has a black cap, white rear neck, dark grey back, wings and tail, and a darker rump. The underparts are white with dark bases on the primary feathers. The upperparts of worn birds become darker. It is very difficult to separate the white-necked petrel from the Vanuatu petrel at sea.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the White-necked Petrel
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is March, the month with the most records.
Where to see the White-necked Petrel
The map shades 9 countries with regular records, and 4 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Mexico, Pitcairn Islands, Kiribati.
About the White-necked Petrel
The white-necked petrel, also known as the white-naped petrel, is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. During the non-breeding season it occurs throughout a large part of the Pacific, but it is only known to breed on Macauley Island in New Zealand's Kermadec Islands and the Australian territory of Norfolk Island and Phillip Island. It formerly bred on Raoul Island, but has now been extirpated from this locality due to predation by rats and cats. Reports of breeding on Merelava, Vanuatu, are more likely to be the very similar Vanuatu petrel, P. occulta, which some consider to be a subspecies of the white-necked petrel. The IUCN rating as vulnerable is for the "combined" species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Trindade PetrelPterodroma arminjonianaThe Trindade petrel, also known as the Round island petrel, is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels.
Bermuda PetrelPterodroma cahowThe Bermuda petrel is a gadfly petrel.
Bonin PetrelPterodroma hypoleucaThe Bonin petrel is a small gadfly petrel, 30 cm (12 in) long with a wingspan of around 67 cm (26 in).
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