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The distribution and abundance of the sea bird species seen during a cruise between New Zealand and the Bounty Islands in December 1970 are described. The field characters of white-capped mollymawk and Salvin’s mollymawk are discussed. Cape pigeons and Salvin’s mollymawks were very abundant around their breeding site on the Bounty Islands, but were scarce elsewhere white-capped mollymawks were numerous on the Pukaki Rise. White-chinned petrels were common towards the southern end of the study area (lat. 50° S). The white feathering at the base of the mandible could not be seen in these birds in the field. The Subtropical Convergence, which occurred about lat. 44° S, was a definite southern boundary of the distribution of Buller’s shearwater and the flesh-footed shearwater.