The typhoon McGillivry reaches a length of 30 cm. The plumage is predominantly dark chocolate in color. There are blue spots on the legs.
The species was described in 1855, when the only young individual was first caught. In the next 130 years, birds of this species were no longer found. Only in 1984 an adult bird was captured and photographed on Gau.
Since then, few have been able to meet this bird in nature. Occasionally, local island populations have reported dead carcasses on rooftops, most of which were still chicks.
A study in the Pacific Ocean conducted by Birdlife International in May 2009 made it possible to photograph eight individuals of the species in eleven days of observation.
This species is classified as endangered because, given the lack of research, it is assumed that there is only a small population of these birds living in a small area. In addition, there is an assumption that the number of birds is reduced due to predation of cats , rats and other mammals .
