Cook's Petrel

Pterodroma cookiiOrder: PROCELLARIIFORMESFamily: Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)
Cook's Petrel Portrait
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Range Map for Cook's Petrel

Overview

Cook's Petrel: Small petrel, slate-gray back and upperwings marked by a distinctive black M pattern. Underparts, underwings are white. Face is white with small, dark mask. Wings are long and slender. Tail is gray, black-tipped central feathers and white edges. Black bill, blue-gray legs and feet.

Range and Habitat

Cook's Petrel: Breeds on islands off New Zealand; migrates regularly to Pacific waters near North America. Pelagic; comes to land only to breed.

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Listen:

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Voice Text

"ti-ti-ti" or "whik-kek-kek"

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Related Birds:

Black-vented Shearwater
Pink-footed Shearwater
Buller's Shearwater
Bulwer's Petrel
Stejneger's Petrel
Audubon's Shearwater
Mottled Petrel
Little Shearwater
.

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Family Petrel (Procellariidae)_blue
Species Pterodroma cookii
Length10.5 Inches
Wingspan25.5 Inches

Cook's Petrel

Cook's Petrel: Small petrel, slate-gray back and upperwings marked by a distinctive black M pattern. Underparts, underwings are white. Face is white with small, dark mask. Wings are long and slender. Tail is gray, black-tipped central feathers and white edges. Black bill, blue-gray legs and feet.

● Song: "ti-ti-ti" or "whik-kek-kek"

● Foraging & Feeding: Cook's Petrel: Eats squid and small fish. Skims water and snatches prey from surface.

● Breeding & nesting: Cook's Petrel: One white egg is laid on a high, forested island slope on bare soil or in a burrow dug or cleaned out by both parents. Incubation ranges from 45 to 55 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Cook's Petrel: Buller's Shearwater is larger, has back head, dark wedge-shaped tail, more contrasting M on back, and lacks dark ear patch.

Flight Pattern

Rapid and erratic flight., Batlike., fast jerky wing beats and much weaving and banking interrupted by high soaring arks.
Cook's Petrel Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Cook's Petrel: Breeds on islands off New Zealand; migrates regularly to Pacific waters near North America. Pelagic; comes to land only to breed.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationYes but uncommon
MigrationMigratory
Weight5.8 Ounces