Hutton's shearwater

Description

Hutton's shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) or kaikoura tītī is a medium-sized ocean-going seabird in the family Procellariidae.Its range is Australian and New Zealand waters,but it breeds only in mainland New Zealand,in just two remaining alpine colonies in the Seaward Kaikoura Range.Because six other colonies have been wiped out by introduced pigs,a protected artificial colony has been established near the town of KaikouraThe bird's name commemorates Frederick Wollaston Hutton,a former curator of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch,New Zealand.A medium-sized (350 g) seabird,with a 75 cm wingspan,it is brown with a white underbelly and brown collar,dark borders to the underwing,dark grey bill,and pinkish dark-webbed feet;it can be distinguished from fluttering shearwater by its dark grey "armpits".At a breeding colony it has a loud cackling call.