The black petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni), also called the Parkinson's petrel, is a large, black petrel, the smallest of the Procellaria. The species is an endemic breeder of New Zealand, breeding only on Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island, off the North Island. At sea it disperses as far as Australia and Ecuador.The plumage of the black petrel is all black, as are its legs and bill except for pale sections on bill. It is a medium-sized petrel (average about 700 g (25 oz) ), with a wingspan averaging 110 cm.

Endemic to New Zealand - previously found throughout North Island and Northwest Nelson but predators (feral cats, pigs) caused their extinction on the mainland from about the 1950s (Medway 2002). Often seen in the outer Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand from October to May.N Breeding is now restricted to the main colony on Great Barrier Island (c. 5000 birds over summer, including approximately 1300 breeding pairs and 1000 “pre-breeders” seeking mates (Bell et al. 2011). There is also a small colony present on Little Barrier Island of c. 250 birds (Imber 1987).

 

On track near Mount Hobson, Great Barrier Island, 2011

In addition to breeding birds, there are likely to be a further 6000 juveniles, pre-breeders and non-breeding birds at sea. Black petrels may range from the east coast of Australia all the way to the coast of South America between Mexico and Peru and the Galapagos islands (Bell et al. In press B). Females and males forage separately and in different places – it is not known why (Bell et al. 2009, Bell et al. In press B). Birds forage much closer to the Hauraki Gulf over the summer and autumn while incubating an egg and raising a chick – mainly in the Tasman Sea and to the North East of NZ (Bell et al. 2009, Bell et al. In press B).