About Garrodia nereis (Gould, 1841)
Garrodia nereis, commonly called the grey-backed storm petrel, is a small seabird. Individuals weigh 21-44 g and have a wingspan of 39-40 cm. Like other members of its family, it is mostly dark grey overall with a black head, though descriptions note it also has a pale back, black legs, a square tail, and a white belly. It can be told apart from other storm-petrels that share its range by its light grey rump, while other related species in the area have white rumps. This species lives across the subantarctic region in three separate disjunct populations: one off the coast of South America, one off South Africa, and one off Australia. It breeds in the Falkland Islands, Chatham Islands, Gough Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Island, the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, and Fiordland on the New Zealand mainland. The first known fossil record of Garrodia nereis was discovered at Te Waka #1, a rock shelter located 900 m above sea level in inland Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand.
