Bay of Islands Seabirds

The bay of Islands is a regionally-significant area for seabirds. 

During our tours we monitor and document all seabirds we spot. You can help us gather information about seabird populations with our Citizen science seabird monitoring app.

While we are sailing, watch for our local little blue penguins, the world’s smallest penguin, our crazy diving gannets, pied cormorants, shearwaters, stormy petrels and other ocean birds.

Takapu/Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator)

• New Zealand Status: native, Conservation Status: Not Threatened
• Bay of Islands: High chance of viewing

Australasian Gannet Facts:

• Australasian Gannets are black and white birds with a yellow head and long bills.
• Wing span is around 90cm
• These birds are spectacular to watch hunt, The Australasian Gannet hunts fish by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey underwater.
• They can dive from a height of 30 meters and achieve speeds of 140 km/h as they strike the water – Our crazy diving birds.

Korora/Little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor)

• Conservation status: At Risk–Declining
• Bay of Islands : High chance of viewing

Little Blue penguin Facts:

• Blue penguins are the smallest penguin in the world and possibly the cutest. About 30cm in length
• Blue penguins have a range of calls to recognise each other, claim and defend territory.
• Blue Penguins come ashore in groups called rafts. This may be just a few penguins or over 100.
• To cool down after swimming, little blues ruffle their feathers and hold their flippers up away from their body.

Shearwaters

There are five species that can be spotted out in the Bay. These are the Buller’s, Flesh-footed, Fluttering, Little and Sooty shearwaters. These birds are cheeky and are often feeding with the dolphins.

Rako/Buller’s shearwater (Puffinus bulleri)

• New Zealand Status: endemic, Conservation status: Naturally Uncommon
• Bay of Islands: Moderate chance of viewing

Buller’s Shearwater Facts:

• Distinctive dark “M” pattern on upperwings.
• Wing span around 46cm
• They breed only at the Poor Knights Islands, 30 km south of the Bay of Islands.
• Breeding is from September to May with the single large white egg laid from late November to mid- December and hatching in January.
• Nests are at the back of burrows that are 0.6-3.2 m long, so can be sensitive to human disturbance, during breeding.

Toanui/Flesh-footed shearwater (Puffinus carneipes)

•  New Zealand Status: native
• Bay of Islands: High chance of viewing

Pakaha/Fluttering shearwater (Puffinus gavia)

• New Zealand Status: endemic, Conservation status: Relict/ At Risk
• Bay of Islands: High chance of viewing

Taiko/Black petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni)

• New Zealand Status: endemic, Conservation status: Nationally Vulnerable
• Bay of Islands: Moderate chance of viewing

Kuaka/Common diving petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix)

• New Zealand Status: native, Conservation status: Relict/At Risk
• Bay of Islands: Moderate chance of viewing

Takahikare-moana/White-faced storm petrel (Pelagodroma marina)

• New Zealand Status: native, Conservation status: Relict/ At Risk
• Bay of Islands: Moderate chance of viewing

Tara/White-fronted tern (Sterna striata)

• New Zealand Status: native
• Bay of Islands: High chance of viewing

Taranui/Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

• New Zealand Status: native
• Bay of Islands: Moderate chance of Viewing