PROCELLARIIDAE (74 species)

This family of 15 genera and about 74 species can be divided into 6 groups, although the genera Lugensa, Halobaena, and Bulweria are intermediate and difficult to assign. The 6 groups are: Fulmars, including genera Macronectes, Fulmarus, Thalassoica, Daption, Pagodroma, and Lugensa; Shearwaters, including genera Calonectris, Ardenna, and Puffinus, Large Petrels, including genera Procellaria, Bulweria, and Pseudobulweria, Prions, including genera Halobaena and Pachyptila, Gadfly-Petrels, genus Pterodroma, and Diving-Petrels, sometimes separated as Pelecanoididae. Most of the world's species have been recorded in the Pacific Region.

Fulmars:

Macronectes giganteus Antarctic (Southern) Giant-Petrel
The giant-petrels were assigned specific status mainly due to assortative mating on Macquarie Island (Bourne and Warham 1966). Recently, Penhallurick and Wink (2004) recommended reduction of the giant-petrels to their previous sub-specific status because of the small difference in their cytochrome b and apparent non-assortative mating on Bird Island, South Georgia.
Breeds Macquarie I 2000-2200 prs (Baker et al 2002). At sea Jun-Aug n to 20S, 5S off S. America. Imms further n than ads, and, as a species, ranges further n than M. halli. One banded S. Shetland Is Feb 2001 recovered off se Australia Jun 2002 (SOSSA #27); most recoveries of Indian Ocean breeders in Australia and NZ (Shirihai 2002). Cas New Caledonia (Jul-Oct, Barre and Dutson 2000), Lord Howe I (Feb, May, Nov, McAllan et al 2004), Norfolk I, Vanuatu, Fiji (Viti Levu: one recovered Jun banded Marion I Feb; also 2 Jun specs banded Macquarie I Feb 1959 before species separated, Watling 2001, prob this sp., as the only 2 of the 9 recs identified to species are giganteus, Watling 2001), Tonga (Nomuka: spec Jul), Society Is (Tahiti), Easter I, Galapagos Is. Acc Jul Tokelau Is, Hawaiian Is (Midway I?, Enticott and Tipling 1997, but unsubstantiated Pratt 1987). Eggs Sep-Oct.
giganteus/halli sp? Cas Kermadec Is Sep-Oct (Veitch et al 2004), Niue Sep (Powlesland et al 2000), Tubuai Is (listed as giganteus by Penhallurick 2003), Tuamotu Is (listed as giganteus by Penhallurick 2003).
M. halli Hall's (Northern) Giant-Petrel
Breeds Macquarie I 1200 prs (Baker et al 2002), Chatham Is (2000 prs: Forty Fours, Sisters, Aikman and Miskelly 2004), Antipodes Is 320 prs, Campbell I 100 prs, NZ (Stewart I: Nelly I at Port Pegasus), Auckland Is. At sea Jun-Aug n to 35S, to 20S off S. America; Oct ca 33-34S/170W (Gaskin and Wood). Most recoveries of Indian Ocean breeders in Australia and NZ (Shirihai 2002). Acc Cook Is (Mauke: Jul 1970, banded at Crozet Is, Holyoak 1980; Mangaia: Macronectes sp? Holyoak, 1980; Rarotonga: 2 specs Aug-Sep juvs, McCormack 2006). Eggs Aug-Sep.
Fulmarus glacialis Northern Fulmar
F. g. rogersii At sea Jan-Feb s to 25N, Oct-Apr off California (McGrath and Feenstra 2005); May 1999 29.5N 133.5W (Smith). Cas Hawaiian Is. Acc Guadalupe I, s Izu Is (Sofu-Gan).
F. glacialoides Southern Fulmar
At sea Jul-Aug n to 35S, off S. America n to 10S. Acc Galapagos Is.
Thalassoica antarctica Antarctic Petrel
At sea n to 50S in winter. Cas n, mostly Aug-Sep, to Macquarie I, NZ (incl NI).
Daption capense Cape Petrel
D. c. australe Breeds Snares Is 7385 prs (Miskelly et al 2001), Antipodes Is 300 prs, Bounty Is 35 prs, Campbell I, Auckland Is, Chatham Is (10s of prs: Forty-fours, Pyramid, Aikman and Miskelly 2004), Macquarie I (1 pr? this subsp? R. Clarke). At sea n to NZ (SI) during breeding season. At sea Aug-Sep n in sw Pacific to 25S incl (rarely) Norfolk I and Lord Howe I (Hutton 1991, May and Aug-Nov, McAllan 2004); one 24-25S near Austral Is Sep (Gaskin and Wood); uncertain subsp n to 0 off S. America between Galapagos Is and Ecuador (and further: one, subsp unknown, followed ship to 16N). Cas Galapagos Is (Jul-Nov), New Caledonia (this subsp? Oct and Dec, Barre and Dutson 2000). Acc Marquesas Is, Cook Is (Aug-Sep s Cook Is, Holyoak 1980). Eggs Nov.
D. c. capense At sea in sw Pacific Aug-Sep n to 25S, generally more southerly than australe, although spec found Fiji (Vanua Levu) Sep banded Feb Antarctica, and one ID this subsp Cook Is (Aug Rarotonga, McCormack 2006).
Pagodroma nivea Snow Petrel
Although northern (P. n. nivea) and southern (P. n. confusa) breeders are separable mensurally, significant sexual dimorphism in both forms and extensive hybridization where ranges meet suggest species status for the two taxa not warranted (Christidis and Boles 1994, 2008).
At sea Jun-Oct n to 55S. Cas Macquarie I (Scofield and Wiltshire 2004, Milius, Schultz fide R. Clarke).
Lugensa brevirostris Kerguelen Petrel
Retention in Lugensa rather than placement in Pterodroma based on breeding biology, which resembles that of fulmarine genera (Imber 1985). Data in Penhallurick and Wink (2004) suggest Lugensa is somewhat closer to Puffinus shearwaters than to Pterodroma, although rather distant from both. Olson (2000) has suggested use of Aphrodroma to replace Lugensa, but the latter is used here following Penhallurick and Wink (2004) and Christidis and Boles (2008).
At sea (subadults) in sw Pacific May-Oct n to 35S NZ region (incl Macquarie I Oct 2002- R. Clarke; one n of Norfolk I Jul, Barnard) but 55S elsewhere s Pacific except, prob juvs, to waters off Chile at 40S Aug (Howell et al 1996).

Shearwaters:

The genus Puffinus was shown by Penhallurick and Wink (2004) to be parayphyletic, consisting of two groups, the smaller species, retaining Puffinus as their generic name, and the larger species, for which the name Ardenna is used.
Calonectris diomedea Cory's Shearwater
C. d. borealis Acc NZ (Jan NI).
C. leucomelas Streaked Shearwater
Breeds Ogasawara Is. Eggs May-Jun. At sea Feb-Oct vicinity and n to n Japan, s to Palau, Caroline Is (Truk, Yap), Mariana Is (Reichel and Glass 1991); Nov-Feb sw Pacific, incl Solomon Is (Green Is, Nuguria, Tarburton 2006, Hadden 2004b; Bougainville, Hadden 2004a), New Caledonia one rec Nov, Barre and Dutson 2000), north Tasman Sea (Harrison 1983). Cas Aug-Oct off US (McGrath and Feenstra 2005). Acc Hawaiian Is, NZ (Feb 2006 NI, Southern Bird #26).
F: Mariana Is (Guam: Apr-May, Wiles et al 2000).
Ardenna pacifica Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Two subspecies were proposed by Murphy (1951), although most current authors consider the species monotypic (Harrison 1983, HANZAB, Clements 2000, Dickinson 2003), or include cuneata in chlororhyncha as followed herein. A. p. pacifica of Murphy is entirely dark-plumaged, while A. p. cuneata of Murphy is predominantly white-breasted. Pale birds most common northerly (Hawaiian Is, Ogasawara Is); only dark birds breed Mariana Is, Kermadec Is, Norfolk I, Lord Howe I (HANZAB). Pale birds outnumber dark birds 100-200+:1 within 150 mi e of Hawaiian Is in Aug, dark birds predominate further e (Rowlett); poss non-breeders from range of pacifica- see below. Strong evidence that Hawaiian Is breeders spend non-breeding season in eastern Pacific; pale-breasted birds predominate in latter area Oct-Feb (King 1974) and are common off Costa Rica Jan, Apr, Jul, Nov (Zook). Birds off Solomon Is (Buka) Jan both pale and dark (Hadden 2004b).
A. p. pacifica Breeds Lord Howe I (Hutton 1991), Kermadec Is (extirp Raoul, 10,000+ prs Herald, 40,000 prs Macauley, 2500 prs Curtis, <500 prs Cheeseman, 50 prs L'Esperance, Veitch et al 2004), Norfolk I, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna (Penhallurick 2003), Tonga (incl Niuafoou Rinke 1986), ?Samoa, Niue (Watling 2001, Powlesland et al 2000). Eggs Nov-Dec. At sea vicinity Oct-May; Jun-Sep n of equator to 30N in se North Pacific (Powlesland and Pickard 1992); acc off California (Jul, but poss Aug-Oct, McGrath and Feenstra 2005). Cas NZ (mostly Nov-Apr NI, but see chlororhynca), Cook Is (this subsp? Aug-Sep, Holyoak 1980).
F: Lord Howe I (seen Dec, Quested; "teeming" Little I area Apr, Bielewicz; easily seen after dark returning to burrows, Walker). Norfolk I (present Oct-May, Hermes; good numbers with terns and noddies, Duranti; common May, R. Clarke).
A. p. chlororhyncha (incl cuneata) Breeds New Caledonia (500,000 prs breeding Southern Lagoon poss largest colony known, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002), Vanuatu, Mariana Is (Aguigan, Saipan, Reichel and Glass 1991), Ogasawara Is (? Brazil 1991), Iwo Is, Caroline Is (Yap, Truk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Pratt 1987), Marshall Is 12,000+ inds (King 1974): Taongi, Bikar, Taka, pale-breasted, Amerson 1969), Johnston I (2500 inds, King 1974), Kiribati (Phoenix Is 10,000+ inds King 1974, Line Is 6000+ inds King 1974), Hawaiian Is 1,800,000 inds incl 150,000 prs, Society Is, Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Is, Tubuai Is, Gambier Is 60-85 prs, Pitcairn Is (Henderson I), Easter I (Penhallurick 2003), and Revillagigedo Is (San Benedicto 1000 prs, Pitman and Ballance 2002). Eggs variable by location: Dec Vanuatu, Jun-Jul Hawaiian Is. Generally sedentary, in tropical Pacific between 30N and 35S. Cas year round Palau (breeds? Pyle and Engbring 1985), Solomon Is (Dutson 2001, Hadden 2004a, 2004b; "spring/fall migrant Green Is, Nuguria, Tarburton 2006), Clipperton I, Galapagos Is, sometimes in large numbers near Costa Rica and Nicaragua (Seabird News 685, fide Pym). Acc NZ (NI: one banded Johnston Atoll recovered Cook Strait Nov, King 1974).
F: New Caledonia (common late pm offshore, Dec Isle of Pines, Gregory; common se coast Gr Terre near Yate Nov-Dec, T. Clarke); Solomon Is (2 Ghizo-Kolombangara, Hornbuckle 1999; 80 Solomon Sea Aug, M. Carter); Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: thousands Apr Sand I, Eastern I, Vandenberg); Kauai: breeds Kilauea Pt, active daytime, Pratt 1993; 18,552 in Hawaiian Is EEZ Aug-Nov, M. Force).
A. bulleri Buller's Shearwater
Breeds NZ (NI: Poor Knights Is 2,500,000 inds); at sea breeding season of east coast of NZ and se to Chatham Is (Miskelly et al 2006). Has been found entering a burrow at Chatham Is (Rangatira I) Nov 2005, and a possible hybrid between this species and Sooty Sheearwater was found on Rangatira I Jan 1990 (Miskelly et al 2006). Eggs Nov. At sea Apr-Oct to northern Pacific, generally north of Hawaiian Is, but to 35S off S. America, incl Clipperton I and Galapagos Is; exact route unknown, but present off Japan Jun-Jul and Sep-Nov (Brazil 1991) and thought to pass east of Tonga both outward and return (Watling 2001), thus prob general northward movement with drift of at least part of the population to east prior to return. Uncommon off US Jul-Nov (McGrath and Feenstra 2005). Oct ca. 34-25S/175W (Gaskin and Wood). Cas Jan and Apr Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004); Hawaiian Is (Apr, Pyle 2002; 2 in Jun, Shirihai; 6 in Hawaiian Is EEZ during period Aug-Nov, M. Force). Acc Norfolk I Dec 2000 (McGovern, Keates).
A. carneipes Flesh-footed Shearwater
Generally considered monotypic by current authors eg HANZAB; the subspecific name hullianus has been used for breeding populations listed below.
Breeds Lord Howe I 10,000-20,000 prs, Norfolk I (Moore 1999), NZ (islands off ne NI and in Cook Strait 50,000-100,000 prs). Eggs Nov-Dec. At sea Apr-Oct to nw Pacific (but unlisted Mariana Is, Reichel and Glass 1991); many to n and e Pacific Aug-Nov with peak Nov (McGrath and Feenstra 2005, Gillson) but also reported (immatures?) Mar-Aug; Oct-Jan Galapagos Is (Castro and Phillips 1996). Generally absent c Pacific, although spec Samoa "early" 2000 (Watling 2001), cas Hawaiian Is (Pyle 2002; 2 birds Sep- Mike Force, a few in Aug Palmyra, Force and Webb), Marshall Is (flying south Nov, Amerson 1969, Pratt 1987). Cas Solomon Is (Green Is and Nuguria spring and fall, Tarburton 2006), New Caledonia (Sep, several Nov, Barre and Dutson 2000), Vanuatu (2 east of Vanuatu Nov, Myers et al). Acc Revillagigedo Is.
F: Solomon Is (4 sightings 10 birds total Sep, Dutson 2001), Norfolk I (one off Music Valley May, R. Clarke). Lord Howe I (easily seen offshore following boats Apr, Walker).
A. creatopus Pink-footed Shearwater
Sometimes considered conspecific with A. carneipes Flesh-footed Shearwater, most recently by Penhallurick and Wink (2004) based on cytochrome b data. Although subspecific status is an arguable case, the two are kept separate here based on widely-separated breeding sites, which would be expected to lead to further differentiation as a result of genetic drift within closed breeding populations. Use of creatopus is discussed by Christidis and Boles (2008); it is a noun in apposition.
Breeds Juan Fernandez Is (Isla Robinson Crusoe =Mas Atierra a few thousand prs, Santa Clara 3,000 prs). Eggs? At sea Apr-Nov to ne Pacific mostly n of 10N incl Clipperton I, Cocos I (Montoya 2003), and Revillagigedo Is. Cas Oct-Dec Hawaiian Is, Marshall Is (Pyle and Engbring 1985), Kiribati (Line Is), NZ (Dec, Jan and Jun SI). A report for Mariana Is is disregarded (Reichel and Glass 1991).
F: 2 from Salinas, Guayas, May (Ottesen).
A. gravis Great Shearwater
Acc Jan-Feb off Australia; one 400 nm ene North Cape, NZ Oct 2006 (Gaskin and Wood); off Chile (Jaramillo); 7 recs Alaska-California Aug-Feb.
A. griseus Sooty Shearwater
Breeds NZ (total pop 20,000,000, mostly islands off Stewart I), Macquarie I 1000 prs, Campbell I, Antipodes Is 1000 prs (Tennyson et al 2002), Chatham Is, Snares Is 2,750,000 prs, Auckland Is. Eggs Nov-Dec. At sea Mar-Dec in generally clockwise movement through northern Pacific and southwestward to breeding grounds (Spear and Ainley 1999; http://terranature.org/sootyShearwaterMigration.htm); movement through tropics rapid until foraging areas in north Pacific reached, although observations off Japan late Apr-early May suggest foraging and molting off Japan, in contrast to Short-tailed Shearwater (Shin Ito fide Lethaby). Considered common off Japan Mar-Jul (Brazil 1991); juveniles reach Japan in Jun (Shin Ito fide Lethaby). Common Apr-Nov ne Pacific and off California (McGrath and Feenstra 2005). Telemetry graphics show direct flight southwest from USA to seas east of NZ, with two birds out of 14 then flying directly east towards Chile- see Chilean breeders below (http://www.seaturtle.org). Chilean breeders move northwestward through c Pacific Apr-Sep to northern Pacific; reg migrant Hawaiian Is, Marshall Is, Gilbert Is; returning Oct-Dec by same route (perhaps earlier- several flying southeast in Palmyra area Aug, Force and Webb), and some (immatures?) from NZ area eastward Oct-Mar to Humboldt Current, joining Chilean breeders Apr-Sep but returning with NZ breeders to natal areas (Spear and Ainley 1999). Numerous east of Tonga May and recorded Marquesas Is May-Jun (Chester et al 1998), but few in southerly movement (Watling 2001); Cook Is only rec 18 birds flying southwest Sep (Holyoak 1980); a few records Kermadec Is Oct-Jan (Veitch et al 2004). Cas Solomon Is (Green Is, Nuguria, spr and fall, Tarburton 2006), New Caledonia (Jul, Oct-Nov, Barre and Dutson 2000), Lord Howe I (only 2 recs: Oct and Nov, McAllan et al 2004), Norfolk I. Hypo Bougainville (Hadden 2004a).
F: c10 off Kauai Apr (Shaw); 336 in Hawaiian Is EEZ Aug-Nov (M. Force), but movement over by early Oct Johnston Atoll area (Force and Webb).
A. tenuirostris Short-tailed Shearwater
At sea n Pacific Apr-Sep, clockwise movement, initially to n Pacific to the west of Fiji (Watling 2001) and between Hawaiian Is (where cas, but 127 NM south-southwest of Kure Atoll 8-10,000 birds per day for about 2 to 3 days mid-Sep, Force; hundreds some days flying south Johnston Atoll area late Sep but movement over by early Oct, Force and Webb) and Mariana Is (Reichel and Glass 1991) incl Lord Howe I (Sep-Jan, McAllan et al 2004), Norfolk I, Solomon Is (Pinipel and Nissan spr and fall, Tarburton 2006), New Caledonia (Apr-May, Sep-Nov, hundreds, Barre and Dutson 2000), Vanuatu, Caroline Is (Pohnpei, Chuuk large nos 8-10 May, Wiles et al 2000), Marshall Is, Kiribati (Gilbert Is), Japan Apr-Jul (adults pass through rapidly late Apr-early May without foraging or molting, Shin Ito fide Lethaby; some birds- juvs?- remain until Nov), off west coast N. America Nov-Apr and e to Tuamotu Arch; abundant Fiji area Sep-Nov, off w NZ Nov-May. Cas Macquarie I, where large numbers, incl 3764 on 20 Feb, on several days heading south Feb and 580 in late Mar at 44-46S (R. Clarke). Acc Kermadec Is (Veitch et al 2004).
F: Mariana Is (Guam: large nos annually 10-22 May, Wiles et al 2000); Caroline Is (Chuuk: 300 8-10 May, Wiles et al 2000), New Caledonia (300+ off Yate coast Nov-Dec, T. Clarke); Hawaiian Is (Kauai: Apr boat (2) Lehua Rock, Melgar; Apr boat off Oahu, Nikas).
Puffinus nativitatis Christmas (Kiritimati) Shearwater
This taxon and the next three were considered basal to the remaining Puffinus taxa by Austin et al (2004); the latter taxa were shown to consist of several lineages (including the extralimital Mediterranean group P. yelkouan and P. mauretanicus and Atlantic P. puffinus) comprising an unresolved polytomy.
Breeds Hawaiian Is (14,000 inds e to Oahu and Molokai; most Laysan 1500-2000 prs and Lisianski 400-600 prs), Marshall Is (Taongi, Amerson 1969, Pyle and Engbring 1985), Johnston I, Kiribati (Phoenix Is 10,000-100,000 prs, Line Is 1000-10,000 prs), ?Samoa (Tau; questioned by Watling 2001; Tutuila, Manua, Penhallurick 2003), Marquesas Is, Gambier Is 450-850 prs, Tubuai Is, Pitcairn Is (Henderson I, Ducie I, Oeno I, Pitcairn I), Easter I, Sala-y-Gomez I 1,000 inds. Eggs Apr-Dec; Jul-Dec Marquesas Is (Chester et al 1998), Mar-Sep Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Is (Pym). At sea tropical Pacific generally near breeding locations, although absent Nov during non-breeding season Marquesas and Tuamotu Is (Pym), but extending west to Mariana Is (rare, Reichel and Glass 1991), Wake I, Caroline Is (Kosrae, Pyle and Engbring 1985), southwest to Solomon Is incl Green Is and Nuguria (Tarburton 2006), Fiji, Tuvalu (Watling 2001), Kermadec Is (Nov Curtis, Veitch et al 2004) and ne to Mexico and C. America. Cas NZ (Feb NI), Jul Ogasawara Is.
F: Tuvalu (one seen May Funafuti, Child 1982); Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: Eastern I, 1 seen under bush, Vandenberg; Oahu: can be seen with patience in spring late in day off Koko Head or Laie Pt, Pratt 1993; Apr boat, Nikas); 9 sightings Hawaiian Is EEZ Aug-Nov, M. Force).
P. gavia Fluttering Shearwater
Breeds NZ (100,000-1,000,000 prs islands off NI). Breeding New Caledonia and Vanuatu (Banks Is) unsubstantiated (Bregulla 1992). Eggs Sep-Oct At sea breeding season around NZ (NI and Marlborough Sounds), dispersing Jan-Oct throughout NZ seas and to Tasman Sea. Cas Lord Howe I (2 recs: Feb and Mar, McAllan et al 2004), New Caledonia (Jul, Barre and Dutson 2000), Vanuatu, Solomon Is (Penhallurick 2003).
P. huttoni Hutton's Shearwater
Breeds NZ (SI: Kaikoura Mts 160,000 prs; relocated 172 chicks starting 2005 to artificial burrows Kaikoura Peninsula). Eggs Oct-Nov. At sea vicinity and (immatures) Tasman Sea, incl Lord Howe I (2 recs: Mar and Oct McAllan et al 2004); most off Australia Sep-Feb (Penhallurick 2003). Cas Lord Howe I (Hutton 1991).
P. subalaris Galapagos Shearwater
This taxon was considered differentiated at the species level by Austin et al (2004).
Breeds Galapagos Is. Eggs year round. At sea in vicinity. Acc Clipperton I, Cocos I (Montoya 2003).
F: Galapagos Is (1100 seen between islands Jun-Jul, Chartier).
P. puffinus Manx Shearwater
Cas NZ (Dec- Saville; immatures Jan, Jun, Jul); also Aug-Mar w coast N America (McGrath and Feenstra 2005; Roberson 1990; Gillson), increasing sightings recent years.
P. newelli Newell's Shearwater
Some authors consider this and the next species conspecific; Austin et al (2004), while suggesting that newelli and P. a. myrtae were conspecific, did not treat auricularis. Austin et al (2004) noted also that the status of myrtae needed further investigation.
Breeds Hawaiian Is (4,000-6,000 prs Kauai; extirp Maui, Molokai). Eggs May-Jun. At sea in vicinity Apr-Oct incl Hawaii and Oahu, several Palmyra Aug (Force and Webb), but absent rest of year, at least some e to California. Cas Mariana Is (Reichel and Glass 1991). Acc NZ Nov, Norfolk I Dec 1997 (Moore 1999), Samoa (Jan Tutuila, Sep).
F: Hawaiian Is: seen 900 km w of Kauai Feb (Lonsdale); 3-4 Apr Kauai-Lehua Rock (Melgar); up to 5 on fall boat trips Kauai (Kuhn); prob important feeding area Kauai-Kaula-Niihau (Harrison 1990).
P. auricularis Townsend's Shearwater
Breeds Revillagigedo Is (Clarion few, Socorro 1,000 prs, ?San Benedicto- Pitman and Ballance 2002). Eggs Apr-May. At sea in vicinity, but may disperse s to 8N near Galapagos Is.
P. opisthomelas Black-vented Shearwater
Breeds Guadalupe I 2500 prs. Eggs Feb-Mar. At sea e Pacific, mostly between 35N and 13N; north to southern California Sep-Apr (McGrath and Feenstra 2005).
P. bailloni Tropical Shearwater
This and the following 3 species are sometimes considered conspecific, and their taxonomy has been rather controversial. Recently Austin et al (2004), whose treatment is adopted here, resolved taxa previously included in P. lherminieri Audubon's Shearwater and P. assimilis Little Shearwater into 3 clades, each treated as full species. These are (1) P. assimilis Little Shearwater, as listed below except for myrtae, (2) P. lherminieri Audubon's Shearwater, confined to the north Atlantic Ocean and including taxa lherminieri, loyemilleri, baroli, and boydi, and (3) P. bailloni Tropical Shearwater, including extralimital taxa bailloni, atrodorsalis, persicus, temptator, weakly-differentiated taxa nicolae and colstoni, and Pacific Ocean taxon dichrous (polynesiae was considered weakly differentiated from dichrous). Austin et al (2004) did not treat the taxa gunax, bannermani, or heinrothi. The taxon subalaris is considered a full species, Galapagos Shearwater (see above).
Of interest are comments by Scofield made prior to publication of Austin et al (2004; pers. comm. Angus Wilson); Scofield said "One could argue that what we have here are a subantarctic species, the true Little (as exemplified by elegans) and a true Audubon's (as exemplified by lherminieri) that have a lot of intermediate "hybrid" populations. I suspect that DNA work will make many of the more northern Little Shearwaters into blue-footed Audubon's."
P. b. dichrous (incl polynesiae Baker 1951) Breeds Palau (Pratt et al 1980), Caroline Is (?Yap, Truk, Pohnpei, Kosrae), ?Marshall Is (Spennemann and Benjamin 2004), Kiribati (Phoenix Is, Kiritimati Dickinson 2003), ?Fiji (no currently known sites-Watling 2001), Wallis and Futuna (Penhallurick 2003), Tonga (Niuafoou), Samoa (Tutuila, Tau, ?Savaii, ?Upolu, ?Manua), Tuamotu Is, Gambier Is 660-1085 prs, Marquesas Is. Breeding Mariana Is discounted by Reichel and Glass (1991). Eggs variable by location; breeds year round Gambier Is (Thibault and Bretagnolle 1999), Jul-Dec Marquesas Is (Chester et al 1998). At sea near breeding locations; vis Kiribati (?Gilbert Is, Amerson 1969; Line Is), Tuvalu, Society Is (Tahiti, Moorea). Cas Mariana Is (Rota, Reichel and Glass 1991), (this subsp?) Nauru (Penhallurick 2003), Cook Is (Jul-Aug, Holyoak 1980).
F: Kiribati (3 seen Jun-Jul, Child 1982); Palau (most numerous off Ngeruktabl at dusk and abund open ocean outside reef, Engbring 1988).
P. b. gunax Breeds Vanuatu (Banks Is), ?New Caledonia (Barre and Dutson 2000). Eggs Sep-Oct? At sea in vicinity. Cas Solomon Is (one towards Rabaul from Nissan summer, Nuguria, Tarburton 2006; Dec Bougainville: between Kieta and Buka, Hadden 2004a; off Guadalcanal Jan-Feb, Dutson 2001).
F: "tens" seen Santa Cruz Is Sep-Nov, poss Vanuatu breeders (Dutson 2001); this subsp? 5 between Fiji and Vanuatu Nov (Myers et al).
P. b. nov. subsp.? Breeds Solomon Is? An apparent previously undocumented form with large white patches at rump sides photographed by M. Carter Aug 2005 in Solomon Sea. See http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=56&bid=730
F: 12 in Solomon Sea Aug (M. Carter).
P. bannermani Bannerman's Shearwater
Breeds Ogasawara Is, Iwo Is. Eggs? At sea near breeding locations. Cas (this taxon?) Mariana Is (Rota, Aug and Dec Guam, Wiles et al 2000).
P. heinrothi Heinroth's Shearwater
Breeds Solomon Is (Bougainville, Hadden 2004a). Eggs Jun? At sea in vicinity, incl Solomon Is (Nissan, Tarburton 2006; Buka, Gizo).
F: Flock 250 betw Buka and Kieta (Enticott and Tipling 1997). Adult grounded Pangunu Jul, juv found mid-Aug (Hadden 1981); recorded off Kolombangara, where may breed (Wheatley 1998). Seen New Georgia area (Moray Is) and Florida Is (Indispensible Straight; Doughty). 2 between Gizo and Ranongga Jun (Hornbuckle 1999). 2 Solomon Sea Aug, M. Carter. Offshore Nissan Jan (Tarburton 2006). West of Rennell Apr (Brodie-Good).
P. assimilis Little Shearwater
Some if not all subspecies may be full species based on size, plumage differences, and in the cases of kermadecensis and haurakiensis, differing feather lice (Holdaway et al 2001). All subspecies listed here, however, along with western Australian tunneyi, were considered subspecies of P. assimilis by Austin et al (2004) except for myrtae, which see. Southern form elegans has a dark face, while northern assimilis and kermadecensis are white-faced. Somewhat intermediate, but mostly white-faced is haurakiensis (see HANZAB). See comments under P. lherminieri, above. A specimen from the Marshall Is attributed to this species has been re-identified as P. longirostris Stejneger's Petrel (Pyle and Engbring 1985).
P. a. assimilis Breeds Norfolk I 100-1000 prs, Lord Howe I (Most Roach I, 4000 prs, but recently on Lord Howe I, 200 prs, Priddel et al 2003). Eggs Jun-Jul. At sea Apr-Oct in vicinity, cas to NZ (w NI); present year-round Tasman and Coral Seas (Priddel et al 2003).
F: Lord Howe I (seen Apr, Bielewicz; common winter, Quested; after dark Apr at burrows on cliff above Blinky Beach with Ian Hutton, Walker). Norfolk I (seen in nos 100+m offshore, 351 at sea May, R. Clarke).
P. a. kermadecensis Breeds Kermadec Is (Curtis I 100,000 prs, <1000 prs Cheeseman, Macauley 500 prs, Herald 100+ prs, extirp Raoul, Veitch et al 2004); ?Norfolk I (this subspecies? recently a few breeders smaller than assimilis have been present into summer (Christian 2005). Eggs Jun-Jul. At sea in vicinity, s to NZ (n NI; fledglings wreck west coast NI Nov-Dec).
P. a. haurakiensis Breeds NZ (islands off ne NI 5000-10,000 prs, most Red Mercury >1000 prs). Eggs Jul-Aug. At sea in vicinity, but one ca. 30-31S/160W Oct (Gaskin and Wood).
P. a. elegans Breeds Chatham Is (Star Keys 100 prs; ?Little Mangere I, Aikman and Miskelly 2004), Antipodes Is 10,000-100,000 prs Tennyson et al 2002). Eggs Sep. At sea in vicinity, incl NZ (e SI), Auckland Is and Bounty Is; poss e (non-breeders?) May-Aug to Chile. Acc (this subsp?) New Caledonia (May and Nov, Barre and Dutson 2000), Hawaiian Is (Scott et al 2001, Pyle 2002), off California Oct 2003 (Debi Shearwater), Macquarie I (Tasmania PWS; 48-51S 2 dark-faced birds late Mar and 6 birds incl 4 dark-faced and 2 light-faced at 45-46S, R. Clarke).
P. a. myrtae This taxon was considered by Austin et al (2004) to be a subspecies of P. newelli Newell's Shearwater.
Breeds Tubuai Is (Rapa). Eggs? At sea in vicinity, incl (this subsp?) Marquesas Is (DuPont 1976).

Large Petrels:

The genera Bulweria and Pseudobulweria are considered sufficiently differentiated from Pterodroma not to be included within the latter (Bretagnolle et al 1998; Penhallurick and Wink 2004); cytochrome b data in the latter paper indicate that the 3 genera included here share a common ancestry.
Bulweria bulwerii Bulwer's Petrel
Breeds Ogasawara Is, Iwo Is, Marshall Is (Taongi, Amerson 1969, Pyle and Engbring 1985), Johnston I, Hawaiian Is 400,000 inds, Kiribati (Phoenix Is), Marquesas Is. Eggs variable; Jun w Hawaiian Is, Apr-Sep Marquesas Is. At sea c Pacific between 30N and 20S, incl Mariana Is (Reichel and Glass 1991); Hawaiian Is breeders to se Sep-Mar, Ogasawara Is and Iwo Is breeders also move se Sep-Apr, but poss also to Indian Ocean (movement through Wallacea Sep-Nov, Dutson 2001). Cas sw Pacific incl Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomon Is (Dutson 2001, Penhallurick 2003) and off US Jul and Sep (3 recs, McGrath and Feenstra 2005). Acc NZ (Jan NI). Hypo Caroline Is (Kosrae, Pohnpei, Pyle and Engbring 1985).
F: Common Capricorn Channel, Coral Sea, Dec (Mustoe). Northern New Caledonia at 19S in Jul (Barnard); Ogasawara Is (42 on ferry Chichijima-Hahajima 5-6 Jun, Danzenbaker); Hawaiian Is (Oahu, Kauai: boat trips, frequent, D.Pratt 1993); 182 in Hawaiian Is EEZ Aug-Nov, M. Force; Kauai: Lehua Rock Apr, Melgar; Hawaii: boat trip Apr "lots", T. Pratt); Marshall Is (Feb, Lonsdale); Marquesas Is (hundreds around Ua Pou Nov, Pym); Solomon Is (off Makira Sep and between Anuta and Duff Is Nov, Dutson 2001.
B. fallax Jouanin's Petrel
Acc w Hawaiian Is (Lisianski, Pyle 2002). The presence of this species among Bulwer's Petrels in the Santa Cruz Is Nov could not be ruled out (Dutson 2001).
Pseudobulweria becki Beck's Petrel
Sometimes considered subspecies of P. rostrata.
Breeds Solomon Is? At sea in vicinity: specimens Bismarck Arch, near Nuguria, and n of Rendova, Solomon Is; 3 recent sight recs Bismarck Arch (Hadden 2004a), also probable small "Tahiti-like" petrel near Cato Island, Coral Sea Nov 2005 (Baxter). This sighting was rejected by the Birds Australia Records Committee and by Onley and Schofield (2007), but Pym questioned these decisions. Baker (1951) suggested a specimen collected Caroline Is, attributed to P. rostrata, could be becki. On 30 July 2007 Shirihai was chumming off Cape St George, New Ireland, and managed to attract 20-30 Pseudobulweria petrels close to the boat. Almost unbelievably, he was able to identify 20+ Becks Petrels alongside six larger Tahiti Petrels. On one day at least 30 Beck�s Petrels were seen, including 16 together. Many of the birds were recently fledged juveniles, clearly indicating that they breed in the area, and a few days later Hadoram found a dead youngster in the water, which he retrieved (Birdwatch).
P. rostrata Tahiti Petrel
P. r. rostrata Breeds Society Is (Tahiti, Moorea), Marquesas Is (Hiva Oa, Tahuata, Nuku Hiva), Samoa (Tau, Olosega?), Cook Is (Rarotonga, Holyoak 1980), Gambier Is (Mangareva, Akamaru, Manui 12-16 prs, Thibault and Bretagnolle 1999), Fiji (Gau, Taveuni; Watling 2001, Plant et al 1989; est 200 prs Taveuni, Masibalavu and Dutson 2006). Eggs Oct; Jul-Oct Society Is (Tahiti, Thibault et al 1975). At sea between 30S and 7N, n to Caroline Is (Truk: Pyle and Engbring 1985, Baker 1951) and Mariana Is (Guam, Reichel and Glass 1991), e to Hawaiian Is Nov (Spear et al 1999), Mexico, incl Revillagigedo Is and Clipperton I, and Peru in tropical Pacific. Acc Jun -Aug NZ; Oct, Feb, May Norfolk I.
F: one at sea Norfolk I May (R. Clarke 2001); 4 near (west of) Fiji and 1 each day between Viti Levu and Vanuatu Nov (Myers et al).
P. r. trouessarti Breeds New Caledonia (100 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002). Cas Solomon Is (Green Is, Nuguria, Tarburton 2006), Vanuatu. Eggs Oct.
F: Solomon Is: 6 in Solomon Sea Aug (M. Carter). New Caledonia (Several Loyalty Is and n of New Caledonia Jul, Barnard; breeds Ouen and Redika in Southern Lagoon, Barre and Dutson 2000; up to 10 just east of New Caledonia Nov, Myers et al). Common Capricorn Channel, Coral Sea Dec (Mustoe).
P. macgillivrayi MacGillivray's (Fiji) Petrel
One specimen, a fledgling Oct 1855, Fiji (Gau), but recent sightings of dark petrels in area suggest continuing presence; one caught by Watling 1984, and since 1985 7 presumed juvs have landed on roofs of houses on Gau (Watling 2001); most recent Dec 2002 (Carlile).
F: 30 Apr 1984, spotlighted Gau, 4-day boat search no luck (Watling and Lewanavanua 1985); Jun 2003 similar search also unsuccessful (Carlile).
Procellaria aequinoctialis White-chinned Petrel
A recent study (Fraser et al 2005) indicates that there are two genetically distinct groups, possibly separable at the species level. Breeders from Antipodes Is were larger than breeders at all other locations, and were named P. steadi, while P. aequinoctialis applies to the remaining populations (Auckland Is, Campbell I, south Indian and south Atlantic Oceans).
P. a. aequinoctialis Breeds Auckland Is 10,000-50,000 prs, Campbell I 20,000 inds, Antipodes Is 100,000 prs (Tennyson et al 2002). Total individuals in Humboldt Current 722,000, with 238,000 non-breeders remaining during breeding season, suggesting NZ breeding population 484,000 inds (Spear et al 2005). Eggs Nov-Dec. At sea n to 30S (one near Austral Is 29-30S Sep, Gaskin and Wood), and (probably NZ birds, Imber, in Spear et al 2005) off S. America Mar-Aug 4-48S, most 30-48S, and Nov-Jan most south of 40s (Spear et al 2005).
P. parkinsoni Black (Parkinson's) Petrel
Breeds NZ (NI: Little Barrier I 100 prs, Great Barrier I 1000 prs). The population is increasing due to predator control at breeding sites, esp Great Barrier I, and total population may be as high as 38,000, about 25,000 of these breeding birds (Spear et al 2005). Eggs Nov-Jan, most early Dec. At sea breeding season n to Fiji, w to Australia, s to Stewart I, e to Chatham Rise (Bell et al 2006). At sea Mar-Dec to ec Pacific between Guatemala (14N, although only 8N Spear et al 2005) and Peru (14S, Spear et al 2005), incl Galapagos Is; Apr 1990 fledgling Great Barrier recovered off Ecuador May 1991, May 1986 fledgling Great Barrier recovered off northern Peru Dec 1991, 1978 fledgling Great Barrier recovered off Ecuador Sep 1984 (Imber et al 2003a). Immatures prob remain in ec Pacific, esp off Ecuador until 4-5 yrs old (Imber et al 2003a). Apparent returning birds occur Oct-Nov Tasman Sea off e Australia (Palliser), and seen Sep near Austral Is 24-25S (Gaskin and Wood).
P. westlandica Westland Petrel
Breeds NZ (SI: 20,000 inds). Eggs May. At sea sw Pacific between 35S and 45S, in breeding season around NZ and w to Australia, Dec-Feb e of NZ at about 40S, to Humboldt Current where some 3500 recorded 20-52S, most south of 40S, suggesting significant numbers, as much as 90% of the total population, limited to Chilean fiords (Brinkley et al 2000; Spear et al 2005). Acc Mar Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004) and west of Rennell Apr 2007 (Brodie-Good).
P. cinerea Grey Petrel
Breeds Campbell I 10,000-50,000 prs, Antipodes Is 50,000 prs (Tennyson et al 2002; Imber et al 2005), Macquarie I 85 prs (Tas WS). Eggs Mar-Apr. At sea Nov-May n to 44S, May-Sep to 25S, 6S off S. America. One near Austral Is Sep (Gaskin and Wood). Occ Tasman Sea, incl one collected between New Caledonia and Australia (Barre and Dutson 2000).