This marine species is highly pelagic and rarely approaches land except when near colonies. It feeds mostly on squid with some crustaceans which it catches on the wing by pattering and dipping. It has been recorded feeding in the company of other seabirds and following ships. It forms loose colonies on offshore islands or stacks, generally amongst boulder scree or on grassy slopes up to 450 m above sea level, nesting in rock crevices or burrows (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

This species ranges widely over most oceans in the southern Hemisphere, breeding on Lord Howe Island (Australia), the Kermadec Islands (New Zealand), the Austral Islands (French Polynesia) and Juan Fernández Islands (Chile) in the Pacific Ocean, Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island (St Helena to U.K.) in the Atlantic Ocean, and Île Saint-Paul (French Southern Territories) in the Indian Ocean (del Hoyo et al. 1992).