Photo: M Rutherford / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Seabirds & Tubenoses

Cook’s Petrel

Pterodroma cookii

Cook's Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Canada Birds of Mexico Birds of New Zealand Birds of Peru Birds of the United States Birds of New South Wales Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania

By family

Petrels & Shearwaters of Australia Petrels & Shearwaters of Canada Petrels & Shearwaters of Mexico Petrels & Shearwaters of New Zealand Petrels & Shearwaters of Peru Petrels & Shearwaters of the United States Petrels & Shearwaters of New South Wales Petrels & Shearwaters of Queensland Petrels & Shearwaters of South Australia Petrels & Shearwaters of Tasmania

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The Cook’s Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 178 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
Genus Pterodroma
Species cookii

Where it lives

Great and Little Barrier is. (off northeastern North I.) and Codfish I. (=Whenua Hou, northwest of Stewart I.; New Zealand)

Oceans & Seabirds

Quick facts

Weight: 178 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Procellariidae
Order: Procellariiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Cook’s Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Cook’s Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Cook’s Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Great and Little Barrier is. (off ne North I.) and Codfish I. (=Whenua Hou, nw of Stewart I.; New Zealand).

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 178 g, with a wing length of about 21.3 cm and a tail of around 9.4 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 120.3 million km² — a very large global range.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Cook’s Petrel?

The Cook’s Petrel is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 178 g.

Where does the Cook’s Petrel live?

The Cook’s Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Great and Little Barrier is. (off ne North I.) and Codfish I. (=Whenua Hou, nw of Stewart I.; New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Cook’s Petrel belong to?

The Cook’s Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.

What does the Cook’s Petrel eat?

The Cook’s Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Cook’s Petrel migrate?

The Cook’s Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Cook’s Petrel endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

How large is the Cook’s Petrel's range?

The Cook’s Petrel has a mapped global range of about 120.3 million km².