White-necked Petrel Pterodroma cervicalis Scientific name definitions

The White-necked Petrel is a relatively poorly known seabird, with its main breeding colony on Macauley Island in the Kermadecs. When not breeding, this elegant, gray-and-white petrel can be found across the subtropical northwest Pacific Ocean, including around the Hawaiian Islands, off Japan, and farther south near New Zealand and Australia. Much of its life history remains unknown and unstudied. At sea, it is similar to and easily confused with the Juan Fernandez Petrel (Pterodroma externa), with which it has been considered conspecific. This species is classified as Vulnerable owing to its relatively small population, estimated at ~50,000 breeding pairs and 150,000 individuals (1 Brooke, M. (2004). Albatrosses and Petrels Across the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), and because nearly the entire population breeds on a single island. However, the breeding population on Macauley Island may actually be increasing as a result of habitat restoration.