This marine species is highly pelagic and rarely approaches land, except at breeding colonies. It feeds mostly on cephalopods but will also take crustaceans and fish, which are taken mainly by surface-seizing. Breeding starts in September in colonies on oceanic islands. It occupies steep slopes with tussock grass or ferns, usually along the coast but also inland. Pairs nest in long burrows (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

The Soft-plumaged Petrel breeds on islands in the Southern Hemisphere, nesting on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island (St Helena to UK), the Prince Edward Islands (South Africa), Crozet Islands (French Southern Territories) and on the Antipodes Islands (New Zealand). It disperses outside the breeding season, reaching eastern South America north to Brazil, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand (del Hoyo et al. 1992).