This species is highly pelagic, rarely approaching land, except to nest and rear young.

Chicks have been reintroduced to Maungaharuru, hills 24 km from the sea, in Hawke's Bay.

[3] The breeding behaviour of the mottled petrel is similar to that of the sooty shearwater (Adrenna grisea).

[6] They migrate at a steady, fast pace, they start heading north in May and the migratory period lasts about 1.5 months.

[7], [8] They are seen migrating to different areas in the north pacific, depending on water temperature and where their prey is most abundant.

[6] They eat fish, squid, and krill, and forage by surface seizing tactics.

Mottled petrels have a high latitude foraging niche along the edge of the Antarctic pack ice during breeding season.