Petrels, Shearwaters, and Diving Petrels
Mottled Petrel
Pterodroma inexpectata
- Family
- Petrels, Shearwaters, and Diving Petrels (Procellariidae)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
Overview
The mottled petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata) or kōrure is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. It usually attains 33 to 35 cm (13–14 in) in length with a 74 to 82 cm (29–32 in) wingspan.
This species is highly pelagic, rarely approaching land, except to nest and rear young. The mottled petrel feeds mostly on fish and squid, with some crustaceans taken.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds islets off Fiordland and in Lake Hauroko (southwestern South Island), in Foveaux Strait and around Stewart island, and Snares Islands (New Zealand); forages to subantarctic and Antarctic waters, and southeastern Australia; migrates to Bering Sea.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Mottled petrel
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
