Tristram's Storm Petrel

Overview

Tristram's storm petrel (Hydrobates tristrami), also known as the sooty storm petrel or ʻakihikeʻehiʻale, is a pelagic seabird in the family Hydrobatidae. It is likely the largest member of the storm petrel family and is found across the north Pacific Ocean, predominantly in tropical seas.

Identification

• Length 24.5 to 27 cm with a wingspan of 54 to 57 cm and body mass of 71 to 120 g.
• Long, angular wings.
• Plumage is all over dark with a slightly pale rump and a pale grey bar on the upper wing.
• Stout bill, adapted for feeding on small cephalopods.

Habitat

The species has a distribution across the north Pacific Ocean, predominantly in tropical seas. It is colonial, nesting in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands and on several small islands south of Japan, including the Bonin Islands and Izu.

Diet

At sea, the species is pelagic, feeding on squid and fish. Its stout bill indicates that it also feeds on small cephalopods.

Did you know?

In the early 21st century, the species was included in a study of plastic ingestion by birds at Tern Island in the French Frigate Shoals.