It feeds in coastal waters, sometimes in sheltered places such as bays and islets and can be found entering rivers along the coast. Its diet it comprised of a variety of fish which is catches mainly be pursuit-diving, sometimes in flocks of up to several thousand individuals. Breeding usually occurs on rocky islands, but also on stacks, slopes and sea cliffs in colonies of up to 2,500 individuals (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

This species is found along the coast of south Australia with two independent populations: one on the coast of south Western Australia, the other on the coasts of South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania (del Hoyo et al. 1992).