Photo: Angela K. Kepler / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Murphy’s Petrel
Pterodroma ultima
Murphy's Petrel (Pterodroma ultima) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Murphy’s Petrel (Pterodroma ultima) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 360 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
- Genus Pterodroma
- Species ultima
Where it lives
Southern Tuamotu, Gambier, Austral, Pitcairn, Easter is. (=Eastern Is.) and Salas y Gomez (southeastern Polynesia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 360 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Murphy’s Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Murphy’s Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Murphy’s Petrel (Pterodroma ultima) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO s Tuamotu, Gambier, Austral, Pitcairn, Easter is. (=Eastern Is.) and Salas y Gomez (se Polynesia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 360 g, with a wing length of about 26 cm and a tail of around 11.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 66.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Murphy’s Petrel?
The Murphy’s Petrel is a large bird that weighs around 360 g.
Where does the Murphy’s Petrel live?
The Murphy’s Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO s Tuamotu, Gambier, Austral, Pitcairn, Easter is. (=Eastern Is.) and Salas y Gomez (se Polynesia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Murphy’s Petrel belong to?
The Murphy’s Petrel (Pterodroma ultima) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Murphy’s Petrel eat?
The Murphy’s Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Murphy’s Petrel migrate?
The Murphy’s Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Murphy’s Petrel endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Murphy’s Petrel's range?
The Murphy’s Petrel has a mapped global range of about 66.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Procellariidae
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern
More in Seabirds & Tubenoses
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern