Jouanin’s petrel is a poorly known seabird from the northern Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf. It was only described in 1955, and the first nests were reported (from Socotra Island, Yemen) in 2000. It is included on the New Zealand list based on a single specimen found beach-wrecked in Northland in 2025.

Identification

Jouanin’s petrel is a medium-sized, sooty-brown petrel, about the size of a Kerguelen petrel, but with quite a different shape. It has a long, tapering tail and relatively long, broad wings held slightly forward at the carpel joint. The tail looks pointed in normal flight, but is wedge-shaped, a feature only seen clearly when the bird banks and spreads its tail. It has a large, robust black bill with pronounced terminal hook and tubular nostrils. The legs are pink with dark toes and webs; the iris is dark brown. Buoyant flight on arched wings in light winds, arcing higher in stronger wind.

Voice: Unknown (silent at sea).

Similar species: this extremely rare vagrant to New Zealand waters is one of several wholly dark-brown or sooty-brown petrels and shearwaters that are easily confused, even by experts, when observed at sea. Observers are forced to rely on subtle differences in the birds’ flight behaviour and body shape. Jouanin’s petrels are larger and longer-winged than the related Bulwer’s petrel, and lack the prominent pale upperwing bar across the secondary coverts (if present it is much less obvious). They have a much more robust bill and a more languid flight without the rapid ‘bouncy’ wing beats and erratic flight typical of Bulwer’s petrel. Differs from similar-sized Kerguelen petrel, by having a distinctly longer tail. Other dark petrels and shearwaters in New Zealand seas, such as black petrel and sooty, short-tailed, and flesh-footed shearwaters, are all distinctly larger and have proportionately shorter tails. In warmer waters around northern New Zealand beware of wedge-tailed shearwater which also has a long pointed tail but has a longer and more slender bill. 

Distribution and habitat

Jouanin’s petrel is a pelagic seabird endemic to the  tropical north-western Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. The sole confirmed breeding location is steep coastal cliffs on the Yemeni island of Socotra, but it is suspected to breed on the Haalaniyaat (Kuria Muria) Islands and possibly in the inland desert of Oman. Birds are regularly reported off the coast of United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen during the breeding season (July to November). Outside the breeding season they disperse more widely, with some birds recorded east to waters off India and Sri Lanka, and south as far as Ashmore Reef, northwestern Australia. Vagrant individuals have been reported from Hawaii, California, and Italy.

New Zealand records

The sole record was a beach-wrecked bird found at Ripirō Beach, Northland west coast, on 16 September 2025. The specimen is held by Auckland Museum (registration no. LB16406).

Behaviour and ecology

Jouanin’s petrels visit their breeding sites at night, laying a single egg in caves and crevices in steep coastal cliffs. The breeding season likely begins in July, with chicks fledging in November. Outside the nesting season, Jouanin’s petrels migrate east and south, with some reaching waters off northwest Australis; they do not usually follow ships.

Food

Poorly known. Probably mainly plankton including  fish eggs, ctenophores and polychaete worms

Websites

IUCN RedList Bulweria fallax (Jouanin's Petrel)

References

Brooke, M. 2004. Albatrosses and petrels across the world. Oxford University Press.

Harrison, P. 1983. Seabirds: an identification guide. Croom Helm Ltd, and A.H. & A.W. Reed.

Harrison, P. 1987. Seabirds of the world, a photographic guide. Christopher Helm, London.

Howell, S.N.G.; Zufelt, K. 2019. Oceanic birds of the world; a photo guide. Princeton University Press.

Miller, P.J. 2026. First record of Jouanin’s petrel (Bulweria fallax) in New Zealand. Notornis 73: 231–233.

Onley, D.; Scofield, P. 2007. Albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters of the world. Christopher Helm, London.

Ryan, P.G.; Rose, B.; Carter, M.; Clarke, R.H. 2013. A review of Jouanin’s petrel records in the eastern Indian Ocean. Ostrich 84(2): 161–164, doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2013.821682

Taleb, N.M.A. 2002. The discovery of a breeding colony of Jouanin’s petrel Bulweria fallax on Socotra, Yemen. Sandgrouse 24: 105–109.

Recommended citation

Miskelly, C.M. 2026. Jouanin’s petrel. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz