Common Diving Petrel - Kuaka

One of the smallest seabirds found in New Zealand waters weighing only 130 grams. A very small black and white bird which flies close to the water with rapid wing beats, a buzzing flight giving the appearance of an over-sized bumble bee. Has the ability to fly straight through waves !. Dives into the water whenever threatened by an approaching boat or predatory seabird. Breeds on offshore islands throughout New Zealand. The closest breeding colony to Kaikoura is in the Marlborough Sounds. As there name suggests diving petrels are excellent divers and. use their wings to fly underwater.

Diving petrels are infrequently seen off the Kaikoura Coastline throughout the year and are generally solitary. Sometimes small flocks of diving petrels are seen off Kaikoura in the winter. Diving petrels are generally found at least several miles offshore.

Grey Petrel

A large plump grey coloured petrel. Breeds on Sub-Antarctic Islands in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Grey petrels nest in burrows. Can dive, using its wings underwater, to depths of up to 10 metres. Since grey petrels can dive so deep and they are attracted to food scraps around fishing boats, their is some concern about the number of grey petrels caught on baited fish hooks, especially in the southern blue-fin tuna fishery.

The occasional grey petrel is seen off Kaikoura in the winter. Grey petrels congregate around fishing boats. Grey petrels are an offshore species and are unlikely to be seen within 5 miles of the coast. The grey petrel is a inquisitive bird and will put is head underwater and energetically swim around fishing boats looking for food scraps.

Westland Petrel

Breeds only in New Zealand in the coastal foothills near Punakaiki on the South Island's west coast. They are a winter breeding species. The large Westland petrel, weighing over one kilogram , make a dramatic sound as they crash through the native forest to access there burrows in the soil on the forest floor. The second largest species of petrel to nest in burrows. The birds large size and burrow nesting habits possibly explains why they have survived on the New Zealand mainland, while many other petrels have been exterminated by predators such as cats, rats and ferrets. The population of Westland petrels has trebled in the last three decades, possibly due to the food scraps available to the birds from the hoki fishery on the West Coast. They do not start breeding until they are 12 years old, so they are probably a long-lived species. Traditionally harvested by Maoris as a muttonbird in the past. Also used as a food source by European settlers on the west coast.

Westland petrels can be seen off the Kaikoura coast throughout the year with peak numbers in Spring. Westland petrels can be seen close to the shore, within a mile or so. They are a distinctively plump large black coloured petrel which comes much closer inshore along the Kaikoura coastline than the similar and closely related white-chinned petrel. Groups of up to a hundred birds can be grouped together on the water to the south of Kaikoura Peninsula. Flocks of Westland petrels can be seen sitting on the water, floating high in the water resembling large black ducks.

White-chinned Petrel

An abundant petrel in Sub-Antarctic waters with a population of over several million birds. 200000 + birds nest on a small island in the Auckland Islands group. The largest petrel species to nest in underground burrows. Called shoemaker by the early sealers who visited the Sub-Antarctic islands because of the sound the bird makes in its burrow, a succession of clacks and rattles. Slightly larger than the Westland petrel. Distinguished from the Westland petrel by the lack of a black tip on the birds peak. While most birds have a white chin, the white chin is usually very difficult to see.

White-chinned petrels can be seen off the Kaikoura coast throughout the year, generally single birds. Peak numbers of white-chinned petrels are seen in late Spring and early Summer. White-chinned petrels are generally found further offshore than the Westland petrel, but are occasionally seen within a mile or so off the coast. White-chinned petrels are not as common as Westland petrels off the Kaikoura Coast although groups of up to 15 birds can be seen around fishing boats. An inquisitive seabird which congregates around fishing boats. Can dive to depths of 10 metres or more using its wings to fly underwater.

Cape Pigeon

One of the most distinctively coloured petrel species with a mottled black and white colouration. Named cape pigeons because of the way they bob their head back and forth like feral pigeons in parks and because of their presence around the windswept Cape Horn. Yet the name cape pigeon is misleading as they are actually a petrel. Breeds on small rocky islets around the Antarctic continent and on the Snares Islands south of Stewart Island. Undoubtedly the most conspicuous petrel species around the waters of the South Island because of their colouration and habit of following all types of boats, especially fishing boats, in search of food scraps.

Cape pigeons are seasonal visitors to the Kaikoura region with flocks of hundreds of birds seen from late Autumn to early Spring, having moved north from the waters around Antarctica and New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands. Cape pigeons are seen off Kaikoura throughout the year. They are the noisiest petrel species at sea (most petrels are silent at sea) and flocks can be heard making a distinctive chuckling sound. They are attracted around feeding whales and keep an eye open for any food scraps.

Southern Giant Petrel

Slightly smaller than the mollymawks. Has a large and distinctive hooked beak, hence called sea vulture. It has a fierce looking appearance. Giant petrels will attack and eat smaller species of seabirds. They are also generally scavengers and are frequently seen around floating seals and whales. They also naturally feed on squid. Has two colour phases, a dark phase which is easily confused with the northern giant petrel (although the northern giant petrel has a brown tip to its bill) and the distinctive white morph giant petrel.

White morph giant petrels are seen off Kaikoura each winter and although it is thought that there is only one "white morph", a local identity, it is probably several birds as 10% of southern giants are white-morph birds (which blend into the snow covered areas where the birds breed). Southern giants breed on ice free islands around the Antarctic continent. Mainly a winter and spring visitor to New Zealand waters from more southern latitudes.

Most of the giant petrels seen off Kaikoura are dark phased birds and are immature with no colouration on the end of their bills (so that they can not be easily distinguished from the more common northern giant petrel).

Northern Giant Petrel

The same size as the southern giant. Has a more laboured flight and tends to flap more than the albatrosses which are more efficient gliders. Adult birds have a brownish tip to their beaks, hence distinguishable from the southern giant. Also called Nelly bird as its aggressive antics amuses fisherman. Closely related to the albatross. Circumpolar but unlike the southern giant, breeds on many of New Zealand's Sub-Antarctic Islands a predator of smaller seabirds. Much rarer than the southern giant petrel overall (i.e. small world population), yet more common than the southern giant in coastal waters around New Zealand.

Sighted off Kaikoura throughout the year. Generally seen alone soaring on ocean swells, unless there is a dead seal or the birds are scavenging on the food remains brought to the surface by sperm whales. Groups of up to nine birds can also be seen scavenging around fishing boats.

Mottled Petrel - Korure

A very distinctively coloured petrel with a black belly contrasting to white underwings. Only breeds on islands around southern New Zealand. This bird flies amazing distances. Adults will fly down to the Antarctic Conference to reach rich feeding grounds while feeding their chicks on islands around Stewart Island. Once mottled petrels have finished breeding they migrate to the northern Pacific (off Alaska and Japan). Large colonies used to nest on the main islands of NZ and were harvested by Maori. Today mottled petrels are protected. Mottled petrels are one off the most oceanic species and are rarely seen near land, usually hundreds of miles offshore.

Mottled petrels are most likely to he seen off the Kaikoura Coast in March and April when the birds are traveling up the east coast of the South Island before their major northward migration out of New Zealand waters.

Grey-faced Petrel

Otherwise known as the North Island muttonbird. One of the five most common seabirds breeding in the New Zealand region. Common around the North Island and Tasman Sea. Some colonies are still on the North Island, with a colony at Mount Maunganiui. Many other colonies have been wiped out by rats. A medium sized dark petrel. Flies higher above the water than the sooty shearwater with a distinctive rounded head. Feeds at night on small squid.

A visitor from the North Island to the waters off Kaikoura. Generally seen off Kaikoura in the spring and summer months. Usually seen alone. Small groups seen around rafts of floating kelp usually found well offshore. Normally found offshore but once again in ceratin conditions can be seen within a relatively close distance (2 miles) of the Kaikoura Peninsula.

White-headed Petrel

Closely related to the grey-faced petrel. A medium sized petrel. Very distinctive with silvery grey wings on top, contrasting to a black underwing. White head is also distinctive. Flies in high arcs above the waves - distinctive flight pattern. Usually solitary when seen at sea. Breeds on Sub-Antarctic Islands throughout the South Indian and Pacific Oceans, with several hundred thousand birds breeding on Disappointment Island (Auckland Islands). Birds move north during the winter and are seen off the New Zealand Coast generally at least 10 miles offshore. Generally tends to avoid boats.

Likely to be seen of Kaikoura during the winter months. Not seen in coastal waters - a bird of the open ocean (i.e. at least 10 miles offshore).

Wilson's Storm Petrel

A remarkable bird, about the size of a sparrow, which migrates from the Antarctic to the Arctic across the endless expanse of the open ocean. Breeds on islands around Antarctica and migrates to the Sub-Arctic waters when finished breeding. One of the most common seabird species in the world with a population of millions, yet rarely seen because of its tendency to stay far out on the open ocean.

Individual birds or small flocks are likely to be seen off Kaikoura between March and May when the birds are migrating north and from October to December when the storm petrels are returning from the Arctic. Generally seen well offshore, more than 25 miles, although can be seen within 2 to 3 miles of the Kaikoura Coast. Occasional bird has flown ashore at Kaikoura after storms.

Grey-backed Storm Petrel

Another sparrow sized bird, weighing only 35 grams, yet at home flying in full force gales in NZ's Sub-Antarctic waters. Distinctive fluttering flight close to the waves. Breeds on islands throughout the Sub-Antarctic. Nests in burrows. The most common storm petrel around the waters off the South Island, but generally seen well offshore, usually more than 25 miles, occasionally as close in as 12 miles.

The most likely species of storm petrel to be seen off the Kaikoura Coast, although only a rare visitor. Most likely to be seen off Kaikoura over the winter months, but could be seen at any time of year.

White-faced Storm Petrel

A much larger petrel than the grey-backed and Wilson's storm petrels. Breeds in colonies on islands in the Hauraki Gulf and Chatham Islands - where there are colonies with a million plus birds. Distinctive coloration around face make this storm petrel easy to identify at sea.

Despite being the most common storm petrel in New Zealand's coastal waters, very few white-faced storm petrels are seen in the coastal waters of the South Island's East Coast. White faced storm petrels are rare visitors to the Kaikoura Coast and will generally be seen offshore but have been spotted within 2 miles of the Kaikoura Coast.

Fulmarine Petrels

Antarctic Fulmar
Breeds on rocky islets around Antarctica. Colonies of over a million birds are crowded onto small rocky islets. Often seen alone out at sea. A large grey and white coloured bird which looks similar to a large sea gull, but is easily distinguished from the sea gull by its stiff wings and rapid wing beats followed by periods of gliding - a characteristic flight pattern of petrels. Birds feed on the rich krill food source around Antarctic waters in the summer and birds move north over the winter.

Individual Antarctic fulmar are seen off the Kaikoura Coast from May to September. Attracted to fishing boats for food-scraps, although they are not as an aggressive feeder as the closely related cape pigeon.