

2018 Concert coming up soon
Date posted: 15-Feb-2018
Our 2018 concert will feature an afternoon of light classics and jazz courtesy of the Auckland Ph..
Wetapunga talk coming soon
Date posted: 05-Feb-2018
For the Social on 19 March the speaker will be Ben Goodwin of Auckland Zoo, who will talk about t..
Rat caught and now takahe released from pens
Date posted: 28-Jan-2018
Thankfully DOC staff Andre de Graaf and Polly Hall and their assistants have trapped the rat whic..
Your Christmas Shopping for a Song
Date posted: 04-Dec-2017
Aka - The Grand Christmas Shopping Expedition to Tiritiri Matangi Island Shop
Dreading..
2018 Photo Comp opens for entries
Date posted: 27-Nov-2017
The 2018 Photo Competition is now open for entries. Click here (/2018-photo-competition-tiritiri-mat..
New reports on ruru nesting and Island conservation
Date posted: 02-Oct-2017
Two new reports have been added to the website.
The first gives details of a summer students..
2018 calendars now available
Date posted: 27-Sep-2017
Our latest calendar, beautifully illustrated with images taken on the Island, is now available fo..
Guided walks for photographers
Date posted: 21-Jun-2017
For a wonderful day of wildlife photography please join us on Tiritiri Matangi Island for a Ph..
Ferry discounts for Supporters
Date posted: 18-May-2017
Tiritiri Matangi Island, the perfect winter's day trip. The birds are at their best, warm up w..
More kiwi for the Island
Date posted: 04-Apr-2017
In 1993 and 1995, sixteen little spotted kiwi were released on Tiritiri Matangi Island. The ma..
Common Diving Petrel
Scientific name: |
Pelecanoides urinatrix urinatrix |
Maori Name: |
Kuaka |
|
|
Conservation status |
At risk - Relict population |
Mainland status: |
NZ coastal waters |
Size: |
20cm, 130g |
Lifespan: |
Unknown |
Breeding: |
August – February |
Diet: |
Small krill and copepods |
The Common Diving Petrel has black upperparts and white underparts. The sides of the face, neck and throat are mottled grey and the underwings are smoky grey. The stubby bill is black and the legs and feet are blue. They only call at their breeding colonies and the main calls are a harsh ‘kuaka-did-a-did’ and ‘kuaka’ given by the females only and ‘kooo-ah’ which is only given by the male.
They feed mainly on small krill and copepods.
Breeding occurs in large colonies on many off shore islands from Northland to Stewart Island, The Snares, Antipodes and Auckland Island. In northern New Zealand breeding starts in August and from late September in the subantarctic. The birds return to prepare their burrows from March until the end of May. The single white egg hatches after about 53 days and fledges at 45–59 days old in late November–December in northern New Zealand and in January–February in the subantarctic.
With the spread of introduced predators these birds survive best on islands without mammalian predators. There is a thriving colony of diving petrels on Wooded Island, just off the NE coast of Tiritiri Matangi. This colony was the source for birds that were translocated to Motuora Island from 2008 to 2010. They are also common on Tiritiri Matangi itself and their calls can be heard, during the breeding season, in many parts of the Island, especially on the east coast.
Learn more about the common diving petrel at New Zealand Birds Online.
Photo: Common diving petrel chick, Motuora Island, Kay Milton © 2009.
References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking. Moon, G. The Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Birds.