This species breeds on St Paul Island (French Southern Territories), Lord Howe Island (Australia), south-west mainland Australia, south Australia (at a single isolated colony), and North Island (New Zealand). In the non-breeding season it ranges north through the western Pacific Ocean to the Aleutian Islands (USA) with small numbers off North America, north through the Indian Ocean and west to the southern tip of Africa (del Hoyo et al. 1992).