Fisheries Infosite

Great-winged (Grey-faced) petrel (XGF)
Scientific name
Pterodroma gouldi

Grey-winged or grey-faced petrels have a dark brown head with a grey face with dark sooty brown plumage on its body. Their wings are black or brown and can attain a wingspan of 102 cm.

Grey-faced petrels are native to New Zealand, but forages widel over the south-west Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. Breeding takes place annually from June to January on islands, rock stacks and headlands from the Three Kings Islands to Omata near New Plymouth.

Grey-faced petrels are considered ‘Not threatened’ by the Department of Conservation and ‘Lower risk’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It has been estimated that there are around 250,000 breeding pairs.

The diet of Grey-faced petrel is mainly made up of squid, but also includes some fish and crustaceans.

Grey-faced petrel occasionally scavenges behind fishing boats and has been caught in New Zealand longline and trawl fisheries.

International Union for Conservation of nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red list

New Zealand Threat Classification System list

DOC threat status: Not threatened
IUCN listing: Lower Risk
Average maturity age: 6.5
Maximum age:
Adult survival average: 92.6
Litter: 1
Reproduction frequency
(per year):
1
Demographic data source: Age Mat from Hamer et al 2000
Population: 250000
Population source: Taylor 2000
Distribution

5 items
Category Environmental impacts
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions (and their accidental capture) with bottom longline fishing vessels details
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions (and their accidental capture) with surface longline fishing vessels details
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions with inshore trawlers. details
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions with deepwater (offshore) trawlers details
Effects on other species
Seabird interactions with scampi trawlers. details