57. Stejneger's Petrel
(Pterodroma longirostris)
Plate 20

Field Characters: 53/31. A small grey-backed gadfly petrel with a conspicuous white forehead and dark cap. Forehead, lores and front part of crown white. Remainder of crown, nape, and tail brownish-black. Upperwing brownish-black, with a black open ‘M’ marking extending from wing tip to wing tip, contrasting with the grey page 55 mantle and uppertail coverts. Underbody and underwing white, the latter having an inconspicuous, black, broken leading margin.

Bill black, feet lilac blue with brown webs.

Differs from other Cookilarias by conspicuous white forehead and dark cap.

Flight as for other small gadfly petrels. Will accompany ships, sometimes for great distances.

Breeds at Mas Afuera Island (Juan Fernandez Islands) and disperses widely across the tropical and subtropical Pacific as far as Japan. Four records from New Zealand.