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Murphy's Petrel

Pterodroma ultima

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A mysterious wanderer of the deep Pacific, Murphy's Petrel spends its life riding the ocean winds. This dark-winged traveler is a master of the air, only touching land on the most remote tropical islands on Earth.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 38–41 cm (15–16 in); Wingspan: 97 cm (38 in); Weight: 360 g (12.7 oz)

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Colors

Uniform dark sooty-grey plumage with a small pale patch on the chin; legs are pinkish-grey with dark webbing and toes; no visible difference between males and females.

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Key Features

Uniformly dark sooty-grey plumage
Small whitish patch on the chin
Pinkish legs with black-tipped toes
High, banking 'gadfly' flight pattern

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours Diurnal at sea; nocturnal at breeding colonies

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Season May-July for North American sightings; Year-round in South Pacific

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Diet A surface-feeder that primarily hunts squid, small bioluminescent fish, and various crustaceans by snatching them from the water's surface.

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Habitat Pelagic (open ocean); nests on remote tropical islands with rocky crevices or scrubby vegetation.

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Where Does the Murphy's Petrel Live?

This elusive seabird is primarily native to the vast expanses of the South Pacific Ocean, with its main breeding colonies located on the remote Pitcairn, Tuamotu, and Austral Islands. Outside of the breeding season, Murphy's Petrels embark on massive trans-equatorial migrations, moving into the North Pacific where they can be found in the deep offshore waters of the United States, Canada, and even as far as the Hawaiian Islands. Because they are strictly oceanic, they are almost never seen from the mainland except during extreme weather events or scientific expeditions.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

5 Countries

35M km² Range

Near Threatened Conservation

Pitcairn Islands French Polynesia US United States Cook Islands CL Chile

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Murphy's Petrel is a quintessential gadfly petrel, a group known for their acrobatic, high-speed flight maneuvers. They spend the vast majority of their lives far out at sea, utilizing powerful winds to glide effortlessly over the waves. These birds are generally solitary when foraging across the open ocean, though they may gather in loose groups where food sources like squid are concentrated.

On land, Murphy's Petrels are strictly nocturnal, arriving at their breeding colonies under the cover of darkness to avoid predators like frigatebirds. They are relatively silent at sea but become quite vocal at their nesting sites, using a series of chirps and whistles to communicate. Unlike many other seabirds, they do not frequently follow ships, making them a rare and prized sight for offshore birdwatchers.

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Camera Tips

Capturing Murphy's Petrel on a camera is a unique challenge because they rarely approach land except to breed on remote islands. For those stationed on or visiting breeding territories in the South Pacific, trail cameras should be positioned at ground level near potential nesting sites such as rocky crevices or under dense vegetation. Use 'no-glow' infrared flashes to ensure the birds are not spooked during their nocturnal visits, as they are highly sensitive to artificial light.

Angle your camera slightly upward toward the entrance of the burrow or crevice. Murphy's Petrels often 'crash-land' into the brush before walking to their nests, so a wider field of view is better than a tight shot. Set the camera to take short video clips (15-20 seconds) with audio enabled; the vocalizations are often as important as the visuals for identifying specific individuals or colony activity levels.

For coastal mainland users, your best bet is a high-speed AI camera with a powerful telephoto lens situated on a high bluff overlooking the ocean during 'pelagic' weather. Look for days with strong onshore winds that might push these deep-water birds closer to the coast. Focus on capturing the silhouette and flight style—Murphy's Petrel has a distinctively high, arched banking flight that separates it from smaller shearwaters. While you won't find them in a typical suburban backyard, these tips are essential for the ultimate seabird enthusiast.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Murphy's Petrel.

Great-winged Petrel

Larger with a much heavier, stouter black bill and darker legs.

Providence Petrel

Features a distinct white patch on the underwing 'pits' which Murphy's lacks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

At sea, they are active during the day for foraging. However, they are strictly nocturnal when visiting their land-based breeding colonies to avoid predators.

You cannot attract Murphy's Petrel to a typical backyard as they are strictly pelagic seabirds. They only visit remote, predator-free islands in the South Pacific to nest.

They primarily eat squid, small fish, and crustaceans which they snatch from the surface of the ocean, often at night when prey moves toward the surface.

No, they are never found in suburban areas. They spend their entire lives on the open ocean, sometimes hundreds of miles from the nearest coastline.

Look for their uniform sooty-grey color, the absence of white patches on the wings, and their distinctive pinkish legs with dark toes.

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