54. Juan Fernandez Petrel
(Pterodroma externa externa)
Plate 12

For other subspecies see Black-capped Petrel (28).

Field Characters: 96/43. A large gadfly petrel, medium grey above and white below with a long tail. Upperwing grey, with conspicuous dark open ‘M’ marking extending from wing tip to wing tip. Cap, nape, mantle and back grey, tail black. In worn plumage the nape may appear pale. Forehead and face white. Underparts white, with inconspicuous, broken, black leading margin to the underwing.

Bill black, feet bi-coloured.

Differs from Black-capped Petrel (28) by absence of white nape-collar, grey (not black) cap, black tail and less black on leading margin of underwing.

Flight as for Black-capped Petrel (28).

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Summer breeder on Juan Fernandez Islands. Disperses northwestwards into Central Pacific. Only once recorded from New Zealand.