Which seabird migrates annually between New Zealand and the North Pacific Ocean?

The sooty shearwater migrates annually between New Zealand and the North Pacific Ocean.

Sooty shearwaters breed in large colonies on islands and coastal headlands around New Zealand, Australia, and parts of South America. After breeding, many travel north into the Pacific, where productive waters provide abundant fish, squid, and crustaceans. The migration forms a vast seasonal circuit rather than a simple one-way journey.

This species is a member of the family Procellariidae, which includes petrels and other shearwaters. Its dark plumage, pale throat, and long narrow wings help separate it from several similarly sized seabirds. Shearwaters are adapted for dynamic soaring, using wind gradients above ocean waves to travel efficiently.

Sooty shearwaters are also known for returning to the same breeding colonies. Like many seabirds, they face threats from introduced predators at nesting sites, fishing bycatch, and changes in marine food supplies.