European Storm-petrel
Least ConcernHydrobates pelagicus
Visual Identification
European Storm-petrel
Appearance
The European Storm-petrel is a small seabird with predominantly black plumage, slightly browner on the wings. It features a distinctive white rump and a white bar on the underwing, visible in flight. The tail is square-ended with a shallow fork.
They have black legs and feet and dark brown irises. They have a heavy black bill, which is relatively short, with a hooked tip and tubelike nostrils at the base.
Both sexes look alike, although in some Mediterranean populations, females are observed to have a wider tail band and longer wings. However, these differences are impossible to verify from a long distance away.
Their plumage may take on a brownish tinge at later points of the year, but other than that, there are no seasonal plumage differences. Juveniles are similar to adults but may have fresher, darker feathers and less pronounced wing bars.
Size
Length
14cm to 18cm
Wingspan
36cm to 39cm
Weight
20g to 38g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Black Brown
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
Black
Leg Colour
Black
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
European Storm-petrels inhabit open oceans across the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Sea. They breed on remote, rocky islands off the coasts of Europe and North Africa, with significant colonies in the UK, Ireland, and Iceland.
During non-breeding seasons, they disperse widely across the Atlantic, reaching as far as the coasts of South America and South Africa. In the UK, they are most commonly seen off western coasts during late summer and autumn.
The Faroe Isles are home to the largest population of breeding storm petrels, with up to 275,000 pairs.
Elevation Range
Sea level to 100 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical
Distribution Map
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Diet
European Storm-petrels feed primarily on small fish, squid, jellyfish, and zooplankton. They often follow ships to feed on disturbed marine life and discarded offal. These birds have a keen sense of smell, which they use to locate food sources across vast ocean expanses.
Fluttering bat-like flight is another helpful factor in identifying a storm petrel – when feeding, they patter across the surface of the waves with their wings held in a V position.
Behaviour
European Storm-petrels are highly pelagic, spending most of their lives at sea. They have a distinctive flight pattern, fluttering close to the water's surface with rapid wing beats, often appearing to 'walk' on water as they pick food items.
These birds are typically nocturnal at breeding colonies to avoid predation.
Vocalisation
At sea, European Storm-petrels are a silent species, but at breeding colonies, they produce a variety of calls. The most common is a purring 'purr-r-r-r-r' sound, often given in flight. They also make a witch-like cackling 'hee-hee-hee' when in their burrows.
These vocalisations are typically heard at night when the birds are most active at their nesting sites.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding occurs in loose colonies on remote, rocky islands. Pairs form long-term bonds and return to the same nesting site each year. The breeding season typically starts in late spring or early summer.
Nests are built in crevices, burrows, or under rocks, often lined with a few feathers or grass. Females lay a single white egg, sometimes with a faint ring of reddish specks.
Both parents share incubation duties for about 40 days. The chick is fed by both parents and fledges after 56-86 days, becoming independent soon after leaving the nest.
Lifespan
The European Storm-petrel typically lives for 11 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 33.8 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While currently listed as Least Concern, European Storm-petrels face threats from introduced predators at breeding sites and marine pollution.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding colonies, particularly on small islands, and reducing plastic pollution in their feeding areas.
Population Data
Global Population Estimate
876,000 - 1,030,000 mature individuals [3]
Global Population Trend
Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for them far offshore, especially during pelagic birding trips
- Watch for their characteristic 'butterfly-like' flight low over the waves
- Listen for their purring calls at night near breeding colonies
- In the UK, best observed from headlands in southwest England and Wales during autumn storms
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
British Storm-petrel, Storm Petrel
Family:
HydrobatidaePredators
Did You Know?
- European Storm-petrels can live for over 30 years, making them one of the longest-lived small seabirds.
- They can drink seawater and excrete excess salt through special glands near their nostrils.
- These birds were once known as 'Mother Carey's Chickens' by sailors, who considered their presence a sign of impending bad weather. ‘Mother Carey’ was the name given to a mythical sea witch in 19th-century folklore.
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FAQs
Why are they called storm petrels?
The word ‘petrel’ is thought to have derived from the species’ ‘pitter-pattering’ stepping movements across the surface of ocean waves.
Another explanation, that the name has links to St Peter, due to stories that tell of his ability to walk on water, have been added at a later stage.
‘Storm’ comes from these small seabirds having a reputation for being able to withstand spells of severe weather at sea and frequently being spotted ahead of the arrival of major storms.
What is the superstition about storm petrels?
Storm petrels were seen by some to forecast death, due to their association with severe storms and bad weather at sea. Sightings of storm petrels were viewed as a bad omen by most sailors.
References
- 2 3
website: BirdLife International. 2018. Hydrobates pelagicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22698477A132650209.
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website, 2012: Robinson and Clark, The Online Ringing Report: Bird ringing in Britain & Ireland in 2011
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