The Galapagos petrel nests exclusively in the Galapagos Islands. Outside the breeding season, it disperses across the eastern Pacific Ocean and typically remains far from land. It can be identified by the distinctive black-and-white pattern on the underside of its wings, its mostly white underparts, and the dark upperparts that extend down across the face and along the sides of the neck. No other seabird found in Galapagos and surrounding waters shares this exact combination of features. When seen from above, it appears almost entirely dark, with only a small patch of white around the base of the bill. The Galapagos petrel is rarely observed on land, as it travels to and from its highland nesting sites only at night. It spends nearly all of its life at sea.