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 Rakiura National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Rakiura National Park
Mottled Petrel
Pterodroma inexpectata
Sooty Shearwater
Puffinus griseus
Antarctic Petrel
Thalassoica antarctica
Cape Petrel
Daption capense
Northern Giant Petrel
Macronectes halli
Fairy Prion
Pachyptila turtur
White-chinned Petrel
Procellaria aequinoctialis
Broad-billed Prion
Pachyptila vittata
Westland Petrel
Procellaria westlandica
Buller's Shearwater
Puffinus bulleri
Southern Giant Petrel
Macronectes giganteus
Short-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus tenuirostris
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 Rakiura National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Cook's Petrel sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 46 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Cook's Petrel in Rakiura National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Cook's Petrel in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.