50. Grey-Backed Storm Petrel
(Garrodia nereis)
Plate 18

Field Characters: 39/18. The smallest of the storm petrels occurring in the New Zealand region. Upperparts ashy grey (appearing black at sea) with lighter lower back and rump. No white rump patch. Upperwing dark grey with the somewhat lighter secondary wing coverts forming an indistinct grey wing stripe. From beneath, the white, belly and undertail coverts contrast sharply with the dark upper breast and throat. Underwing white with conspicuous broad, black leading margin. Tail square.

Bill and feet, including webs, black.

Differs from White-bellied (51) and Black-bellied Storm Petrels (52) by the absence of a white rump patch, and by its smaller size.

Flight typical of all Storm Petrels. Does not follow ships.

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Circumpolar in distribution, this species breeds locally on the Chatham, Antipodes and Auckland Islands, and probably on Campbell and Macquarie Islands. It is common in subantarctic waters, but has rarely been reported further north.