Birds Active at night

Grey-faced Petrel

Pterodroma gouldi

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The ōi is a master of the New Zealand night, a seafaring petrel that returns from the deep ocean to nest in the rugged coastal forests of the North Island.

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0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length of 42-45 cm (16.5-18 in), wingspan of 105-115 cm (41-45 in), and weight between 500-600 g (1.1-1.3 lbs).

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Colors

Soapy dark-brown plumage overall with a prominent pale grey area on the face, forehead, and throat; black bill and dark legs.

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Key Features

Distinctive greyish face and forehead
Heavy, black, strongly hooked bill
Long, narrow wings with a distinctive 'M' shape in flight
Large, stout body compared to other petrels
Strictly nocturnal behavior on land

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active at night

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Peak hours 8 PM - 4 AM

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Season March-December

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Diet Feeds primarily on squid, small fish, and crustaceans caught at the ocean surface, often at night.

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Habitat Coastal headlands, steep seaside cliffs, and offshore islands with soft soil suitable for burrowing.

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Where Does the Grey-faced Petrel Live?

The Grey-faced Petrel is a native inhabitant of the Southern Hemisphere, specifically endemic to the coastal regions of the North Island of New Zealand and its numerous offshore islands. While they breed exclusively in New Zealand, they are incredible navigators that range widely across the subtropical South Pacific and the Tasman Sea during the non-breeding season. Their core terrestrial presence is concentrated on the rugged coastlines between the Three Kings Islands in the north and the Mahia Peninsula in the east.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries

10.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

NZ New Zealand AU Australia

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Grey-faced Petrel, or ōi, is a remarkable pelagic wanderer that spends the vast majority of its life soaring over the open ocean. On land, these birds are strictly nocturnal, a strategy evolved to avoid predators like the Kelp Gull and the Australasian Harrier. They arrive at their colonies in a flurry of activity after sunset, often making loud, cackling calls that can be quite eerie in the darkness. They are highly social during the breeding season, congregating in large numbers on coastal headlands and offshore islands.

On the ground, their movement is somewhat clumsy; they are known for 'crash-landing' through the forest canopy to reach the forest floor. Once down, they use their hooked bills and strong claws to navigate to their burrows. While they are generally indifferent to humans, they are vulnerable to introduced mammalian predators, making them a focus of intense community-led conservation efforts across New Zealand's North Island.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Grey-faced Petrel requires specific targeting of their breeding colonies, which are primarily located on the North Island’s coastal cliffs and headlands. Because these birds only visit land at night, an AI-powered camera with high-quality infrared (IR) night vision is essential. Position your camera near burrow entrances—look for large holes among tree roots or on steep banks under coastal canopy like Pōhutukawa. A mounting height of 20-30 centimeters off the ground is perfect for capturing their waddling gait as they return to their nests.

The best time to record activity is during the winter and spring months, specifically from June through December when the birds are actively tending to their burrows and feeding chicks. Set your camera's active hours from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise to capture the peak traffic of adults arriving and departing. Avoid using any white-light flash, as this can disorient the birds and potentially lead to injury or abandonment; instead, use 'no-glow' or 'low-glow' IR settings.

To get the most interesting footage, aim the camera at a 'take-off point.' These are usually high, exposed rocks or leaning tree trunks that the birds climb to get enough elevation for flight. Using a high motion sensitivity setting is recommended, as petrels can be surprisingly quick when scurrying through the undergrowth. If you are in a backyard with known burrows, ensure your camera is positioned to view the entrance without obstructing the path, as these birds are sensitive to new physical barriers in their flight path.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Grey-faced Petrel.

Black Petrel

Larger body with a yellowish bill and no grey facial patch.

Great-winged Petrel

Very similar but typically lacks the prominent grey face and breeds in different geographic regions outside New Zealand coastal waters.

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Frequently Asked Questions

On land, Grey-faced Petrels are strictly nocturnal. They arrive at their nesting sites starting about 45 to 60 minutes after sunset and remain active throughout the night until shortly before dawn, when they depart for the sea to avoid daytime predators.

You can only attract Grey-faced Petrels if you live on a coastal headland or island within their specific North Island range. The best way to encourage them is by controlling predators like rats and cats, and by maintaining native coastal vegetation that provides stable soil for their burrows.

Their diet consists mainly of squid, bioluminescent fish, and crustaceans. They are surface-seizers, meaning they grab prey from the top layer of the water while swimming or dipping their heads while in flight.

They are generally not common in typical suburban gardens. However, in coastal towns near breeding colonies, they may occasionally be found 'grounded' after being disoriented by artificial lights during foggy or stormy weather.

The Grey-faced Petrel has a distinctive pale grey patch around its face and a shorter, thicker black bill. The Black Petrel is larger and has a pale, straw-colored bill with a dark tip, and it lacks the grey facial markings.

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