Swinhoe's Storm Petrel

Overview

Swinhoe's storm petrel is a small, all-brown seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. It breeds on islands in the northwest Pacific and spends the rest of the year at sea, ranging as far as the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

Identification

• Small bird measuring 18–21 cm in length with a 45–48 cm wingspan, distinctly larger than the European storm petrel.
• Essentially dark brown in all plumages with a forked tail and longish wings.
• Exhibits a fluttering flight and patters on the water surface to pick planktonic food items.
• Does not follow ships, unlike the European storm petrel.

Habitat

The species breeds in colonies on islands in the northwest Pacific off the Russian Far East, China, Japan and Korea, nesting in rock crevices close to the sea. Outside the breeding season, it is strictly pelagic and ranges into the northern Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

Diet

It feeds mainly on planktonic food items picked from the ocean surface. Foraging behaviour involves dipping on the wing, though it may also patter on the water surface.

Did you know?

Swinhoe's storm petrel is strictly nocturnal at breeding sites to avoid predation by gulls and skuas, and will even avoid coming to land on clear moonlit nights.