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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Procellariidae
  4. ›
  5. Pseudobulweria
  6. ›
  7. Tahiti Petrel

BirdUp · Species

Tahiti Petrel

Pseudobulweria rostrata(Peale, 1849)

Origin: Native
Order
PROCELLARIIFORMES
Family
Procellariidae
Genus
Pseudobulweria

At a glance

The Tahiti Petrel is a large bird, about 38–40 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
38–40 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Local
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Tahiti Petrel look like?

The Tahiti Petrel is a large bird, about 38–40 cm long and weighing 315–406 g.

The Tahiti petrel is a medium-sized, dark brown and white seabird found across the Pacific Ocean. The species comprises two subspecies: P. r. rostrata which breeds in the west-central Pacific Ocean, and P. r. trouessarti which breeds in the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean. The Tahiti petrel belongs to the Procellariidae family and is the most studied member of the Pseudobulweria genus which comprises three critically endangered species. Similarly, the Tahiti petrel is considered near threatened by the 2018 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Threats include introduced rats, feral cats, pigs, dogs, nickel mining, and light pollution.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
38–40 cm
Weight
315–406 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Tahiti Petrel?

The Tahiti Petrel is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Tahiti Petrel eat?

The Tahiti Petrel feeds on fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks or alone.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Tahiti Petrel live in Australia?

The Tahiti Petrel is native to Australia, recorded across 3 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingGrande Terre (New Caledonia), Gau (Fiji; south-west Polynesia), American Samoa (central Polynesia), Society, Marquesas and Gambier is. (south-east Tuamotu Is.; east Polynesia)

Non-breedingTo tropical Pacific Ocean waters off New Guinea and north Australia, and east-central Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Non-breeding
  • Vagrant

4 regions recorded