Tahiti petrel  (Pseudobulweria rostrata)

The largest member of its genus (4), the Tahiti petrel is a dark brown seabird, with slightly paler uppertail-coverts, and white underparts which are clearly demarcated from the brown upper chest (3) (5). The central part of the dark underwing bears a thin, pale stripe (2) (3). The beak is black and particularly robust, and, like other petrels, bears characteristic tubular nostrils (3) (6). The male and female are similar in appearance (3), and the juvenile Tahiti petrel resembles the adult (2). Although similar to the Phoenix petrel, Pterodroma alba, the Tahiti petrel can be distinguished by its larger size, the paler uppertail-coverts, the absence of a pale throat patch, and the more central pale stripe on the underwing (2) (3). The Tahiti petrel also has a distinctive, straight-winged flight that is more leisurely than in many other petrel species. The call of the Tahiti petrel is a long and elaborate series of whistles, ending with a hooting sound (3).

Two subspecies are currently recognised: Pseudobulweria rostrata trouessarti has a larger, more bulky beak than Pseudobulweria rostrata rostrata, and the two may have slightly different calls (2) (3). A third, smaller subspecies, Pseudobulweria rostrata becki (2), is now treated as a separate species, Beck’s petrel (Pseudobulweria becki).