The Rapa shearwater, is a rare seabird of the tropics from the family Procellariidae. It breeds on the surrounding islets of Rapa in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia where it is known locally as the kaki kaki.
Region
South Pacific Ocean
Typical Environment
Breeds on small, steep offshore islets surrounding Rapa, using burrows or rock crevices on vegetated slopes and ledges. At sea it is pelagic, ranging widely over open ocean waters around the Austral Islands. It avoids the main island where introduced mammals occur, favoring predator-free rocks and islets. Foraging typically occurs over shelf edges, fronts, and areas of local upwelling.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Known locally as the kaki kaki, the Rapa shearwater nests in burrows on predator-free islets around Rapa in the Austral Islands. It is a little-seen, nocturnal visitor to colonies and spends most of its life far offshore. Introduced predators and human disturbance have likely limited its breeding range. Its small size and swift, low flight over waves make it easy to overlook at sea.
Temperament
shy and pelagic
Flight Pattern
low over waves with rapid wingbeats and short glides
Social Behavior
Breeds colonially in burrows or crevices, often returning to colonies only at night to avoid predators. Typically monogamous with a single egg per season; both parents share incubation and chick rearing. Adults show strong site fidelity to traditional nesting islets.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
At colonies it gives soft, quavering whistles and trills, mostly at night. Calls are subdued compared to larger shearwaters and can be difficult to detect over surf noise.
Plumage
Compact small shearwater with dark upperparts and clean white underparts; demarcation between dark mantle and white flanks is fairly crisp. Face shows white extending up the cheeks with a dusky cap and narrow dark eye-line. Underwings mostly white with narrow dark margins.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small fish, squid, and other cephalopods, and occasionally on crustaceans. Forages by surface seizing and shallow pursuit-plunging, often in areas with converging currents. May associate with predatory fish or marine mammals that drive prey to the surface.
Preferred Environment
Open ocean waters near shelf edges, fronts, and around offshore islets. Rarely approaches shore except to breed.
