Pterodroma ultima

With a conservation status of "near threatened”, Murphy’s Petrel is indeed a rare species with very little known about it. The first specimen was collected from Pitcairn’s Oeno Island in 1922, but it was not until 1949 that Robert Murphy, a seabird biologist, described the species. Murphy applied the scientific name ultima  which was rash in retrospect, as in 1963 its status as ultimate was lost with the description of Barau’s Petrel.

Growing to around 40cm, Murphy’s Petrel is pearl-grey in colour with its plumage becoming browner as it becomes worn. Whiter around the throat, it has a black bill, legs and eye. Its relatively large head and delicate bill are noticeable and it has a shortish tail.

The species feeds on squid, fish, crustacea and insects. Birds begin the breeding process in late March with egg laying being observed on Henderson in late May to mid July.

The species is a surface nester and nests close to neighbours in scrapes under shade canopies of Argusia argentea  trees. Hatching takes place late July – August with a nestling period of around 100 days.

Fledgling success is not high on Henderson with the predatory Pacific Rat causing much damage. Survival rates are higher on Oeno and Ducie.

The distribution of Murphy’s Petrel centres on the known breeding islands in the central Pacific Ocean. These include various islands in French Polynesia including the Tuamotus, Australs and Gambiers but the species’ stronghold is the Pitcairn group where the following populations are estimated (1995):
Henderson 2500 pairs; Oeno 12,500 pairs; Ducie 250,000 pairs.

Cats and rats on Pitcairn have kept this species from establishing itself. The world population is estimated at between 800,000 – 1,000,000 individuals.

Little is known about the birds in the non-breeding season although they have been noted off the western coast of the United States and as far away as the Cook Islands, Hawaii and Peru.