Pterodroma pycrofti breeds under forest on 12 offshore islands along the east coast of
New Zealand, in the Poor Knights Islands, the Hen and Chicken Islands, the Mercury Islands, and Ririwha (= Stephenson). Chick translocations to Cuvier Island in 2001-2003 have resulted in a small breeding population (numbering 14 pairs in 2012) (G. Taylor in litt. 2012). Subfossils indicate that the species once bred on Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands (to Australia) (Heather and Robertson 1997). Red Mercury Island (c.80% of total) supported 1,000-2,000 pairs in 1989-1991, and 2,000-3,000 in 1998. Surveys in 2010 indicate that this population has expanded to 5,000-10,000 pairs and is the dominant seabird on the island (G. Taylor
in litt. 2012). The population at the Hen and Chickens is probably less than 500 pairs. Other populations are tiny. The total breeding population is estimated at c.10,000 pairs, with a total population of 30,000-40,000 birds (G. Taylor
in litt. 2012). However, a banded adult found 5 May 2005 offshore Lelehudi Village, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, may indicate some birds spend the non-breeding season in the Papua New Guinea region. The timing of the recovery does not rule out the possibility of a passing migrant (Pierce 2009). Studies utilising geolocators have shown that, when not breeding, birds disperse to the central and eastern tropical Pacific (M. Rayner
in litt. 2012, G. Taylor
in litt. 2012).
Rights Holder: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Bibliographic Citation: BirdLife International 2012.
Pterodroma pycrofti. In: IUCN 2014 . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1 . <
www.iucnredlist.org>
