Cook's Petrel
Pterodroma cookii
Silhouette: Kimberly Haddrell · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderProcellariiformes (Tubenoses)
- FamilyProcellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)
- GenusPterodroma (Gadfly Petrels)
- SpeciesPterodroma cookii (Cook's Petrel)
About the Cook's Petrel
Cook's petrel (Pterodroma cookii) or tītī (Māori), blue-footed petrel, is a Procellariiform seabird endemic to New Zealand. It is a member of the gadfly petrels and part of the subgenus Cookilaria Bonaparte, 1856, which includes the very similar Stejneger's petrel.
One of the smallest petrels, Cook's petrel is typically 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) in length with a 65–66 cm (26–26 in) wingspan and a weight of around 200 g (7.1 oz). Its colouration is typical of gadfly petrels: pale grey upperparts with a dark grey "M" on the wings and white underparts.
The bill is long and black with tubular nostrils on both sides. As in all members of the order Procellariiformes, this nostril configuration enables an exceptionally acute sense of smell, which the birds use to locate food and nest sites in the dark.
Cook's petrel feeds mostly on fish and squid, with some crustaceans taken. The species is highly pelagic except when nesting. Cook's petrel breeds only in New Zealand on three small islands: Little Barrier Island, Great Barrier Island, and Codfish Island. The breeding season is the southern summer, from October to May. It nests in burrows and rock crevices... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Cook's Petrel in Fiordland National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Fiordland National Park
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Soft-plumaged Petrel
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Cape Petrel
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Cook's Petrel in Fiordland National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Cook's Petrel sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 79 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Cook's Petrel in Fiordland National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Cook's Petrel in Fiordland National Park in our monthly data.