Mottled Petrel

Overview
Mottled Petrel: Medium-sized petrel, mostly gray with mottled white markings. Face is gray and white and, throat, upper breast, and undertail are white. Wings have distinct black bars on white undersides. Feeds on small squid and fish. Alternates high soaring arcs and gliding with rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat
Mottled Petrel: Breeds on islands off New Zealand. Spring and summer visitor to Bering Sea and cool northeastern Pacific; rarely south to Oregon and California. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.

INTERESTING FACTS
The Mottled Petrel was discovered in the South Pacific Ocean during Cook's second voyage. A painting was made by George Forster and a description drawn by his father J.R. Forster. It was formerly more numerous than today. Numbers were affected by predation by introduced mammals. This petrel does not follow ships and usually remains far from land. A group of petrels are collectively known as a "gallon" and a "tank" of petrels.