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Black-winged Petrel

Pterodroma nigripennis

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

An acrobatic master of the Pacific winds, the Black-winged Petrel is famous for its high-speed 'rollercoaster' flight and striking underwing patterns. These resilient seabirds travel thousands of miles across the open ocean, returning to remote islands only to raise the next generation in hidden forest burrows.

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0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 29-31 cm (11.5-12 in); Wingspan: 63-71 cm (25-28 in); Weight: 145-200 g (5.1-7.1 oz)

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Colors

Pale grey upperparts with a dark 'M' pattern; white underparts with a distinctive black border on the leading edge of the underwing; white face with a dark patch around the eye.

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Key Features

Distinctive black margin on the underwing leading edge
Dark 'M' or 'W' pattern across grey wings and back
Short, stout black bill with a hooked tip
High, banking, acrobatic flight style

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours Late afternoon and night (at breeding colonies); daylight hours for foraging at sea.

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Season October-May (Southern Hemisphere breeding season)

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Diet Primarily cephalopods (squid), small fish, and crustaceans (prawns) seized from the ocean surface.

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Habitat Open ocean (pelagic); nests in burrows on subtropical and tropical oceanic islands with sandy soil or forest litter.

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Where Does the Black-winged Petrel Live?

The Black-winged Petrel is native to the Pacific Ocean, with its primary breeding grounds located on remote islands in the Southwest Pacific, including Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, and the Kermadec Islands. In recent decades, its range has expanded significantly to include several islands off the coast of New South Wales and even New Caledonia. During the non-breeding season, these birds migrate across the equator into the North Pacific, frequently reaching the waters around Hawaii and occasionally being sighted off the western coast of North America and Japan. This expansive range makes them one of the most widely dispersed gadfly petrels in the Pacific basin.

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8 Countries

120M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

AU Australia NZ New Zealand French Polynesia US United States JP Japan New Caledonia Cook Islands Fiji

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Black-winged Petrel is an extraordinary aerialist, known for its high-speed 'gadfly' flight. It performs spectacular high-arching banks and steep dives, often rising high above the horizon before swooping back down to the wave troughs. This species is highly pelagic, spending the vast majority of its life over the open ocean and only returning to land for the breeding season.

During the breeding season, these petrels become semi-nocturnal at their nesting colonies to avoid predators like gulls or hawks. They are highly social near their burrows, often seen in 'aerial displays' where groups circle and call to one another in a high-pitched 'ti-ti-ti' chatter. Unlike some other petrels, they are relatively bold and can sometimes be seen arriving at their colonies in the late afternoon before the sun has fully set.

While they are solitary foragers at sea, they are not particularly shy of ships and may occasionally follow vessels, though they do not typically scavenge like some albatross species. Their interactions with humans are limited to their breeding islands, where they are sensitive to habitat disturbance and introduced predators.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Black-winged Petrel on camera is a specialized task because they are almost never seen on the ground outside of their breeding colonies. If you live in or are visiting a coastal or island region where they nest, place your camera near the entrance of known burrows in sandy soil or under forest leaf litter. Use a low tripod or a ground mount, angling the camera slightly upward to capture the bird as it lands or enters the burrow. Because they are clumsy on land, they often pause briefly before disappearing underground, giving you a perfect window for a shot.

Since these birds are most active at the colonies from late afternoon through the night, a camera with high-quality Infrared (IR) night vision is essential. To avoid 'white-out'—where the bird's white underbelly reflects too much IR light and loses detail—set your camera's IR intensity to 'medium' or 'low' if the burrow is within 5 feet. A fast trigger speed (0.3s or less) is vital because petrels can move surprisingly quickly when they decide to scuttle into their holes.

If you are trying to capture their spectacular flight from a coastal vantage point, use a camera with a high frame rate or 'burst mode.' Position the camera facing into the wind, as these birds utilize head-winds to gain lift and perform their characteristic high-arching banks. Avoid using flash, as it can disorient the birds and potentially lead to collisions with trees or rocks. Instead, rely on the camera's low-light sensors during the 'golden hour' just before sunset when the birds begin to congregate over the island.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Black-winged Petrel.

Cook's Petrel

Cook's has a much whiter underwing and a more slender bill than the Black-winged Petrel.

Gould's Petrel

Gould's Petrel has a much darker, more defined 'hood' or cap on its head compared to the paler face of the Black-winged.

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Frequently Asked Questions

At sea, they forage during the day. However, at their breeding colonies, Black-winged Petrel are most active from the late afternoon through the night to avoid predators like gulls.

Black-winged Petrel cannot be attracted to typical backyards with food. They only come to land on specific oceanic islands for breeding. Providing a predator-free environment (removing rats and cats) on those islands is the best way to support them.

They primarily eat small squid, fish, and prawns. They use a technique called 'surface-seizing,' where they pluck prey from the top of the water while flying or hovering.

No, they are not. They are pelagic seabirds and are only found on remote islands or at sea. You will only see them near human settlements if those settlements are located on their specific breeding islands in the Pacific.

The easiest way is the underwing; the Black-winged Petrel has a prominent, thick black margin on the leading edge, whereas Cook's Petrel has much whiter underwings with only a very thin dark edge.

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