On islands it usually nests in forest, while in the South Island it tends to nest in scrub remnants³. Nests must have surrounding vegetation that conceals them from visual contact with conspecifics for successful breeding⁶. It is a solitary breeder, maintaining a large territory size which can be up to one hectare. Two eggs are laid in mid-September to mid-October, with hatching occurring at the beginning of November. Chicks fledge from mid-February to mid-March²⁰. It feeds primarily on red cod, opal fish, sprat⁸, silversides, ahuru, blue cod and squid, taking prey up to 15 km offshore at the edge of the continental self²⁰. The generation length is 5-7 years¹.