Wilson's Storm Petrel
Oceanites oceanicus
Also known as: Wilson's Petrel, Wilsons Storm-Petrel
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
Invertebrate
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
30 g
About This Species
One of the most abundant seabirds worldwide, breeding on sub-Antarctic islands and ranging widely across the world's oceans outside the breeding season, typically seen pattering its feet on the water surface while picking planktonic food from the surface. It often follows ships and gathers around fishing activity or chum slicks on pelagic trips. Passage through temperate waters peaks during the non-breeding months when birds disperse north from their southern colonies.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Viewing is almost always from a boat at a working distance of several metres or more, which is both safe and sufficient given the bird's small size and constant movement.
- Its breeding islands are remote and access is generally restricted or permitted only for research, reflecting strong protection for these colonies.
- Chumming or burley used to attract birds on pelagic trips should follow the operator's established practice rather than being increased to draw birds closer than normal.
Seasonal Activity
179,013 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Hydrobatidae
Traits
- Diet
- Invertebrate
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 30 g
Photo
(c) Niall Perrins, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Niall Perrins
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.