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European Storm-Petrel
(Hydrobates pelagicus)
: "British Storm-Petrel", "Storm-Petrel"
 German name(s): "Sturmschwalbe"
Size: 14-18 cm; wing span 36-39 cm
Weight: 20-38 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
European Storm-Petrels are small seabirds.
Their plumage is
all dark-grey, except for the white rump and flanks and white
bars on the underwing coverts. The tail is squarish. The legs do
not protrude beyond the end of the tail in flight. The irises are
dark, while the slightly hooked bill and the legs are dark-grey.
Juveniles
are darker-grey than
adults,
bordering on black.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See European
Storm-Petrel at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the European Storm-Petrel is available
HERE
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European Storm-Petrels are a species found primarily in the
western North Atlantic, although outside the breeding season
they disperse also into the central and the southern Atlantic,
traveling as far as South Africa, even Swaziland.
Their breeding range is restricted to the coaslines of Europe
and southern Iceland, plus the Canary Islands.
In Europe, European Storm-Petrels are present all year round.
They spend the breeding season on rocky islands and rocky
coastlines ranging, except for one site in Greece and in the
Adriatic Sea each, from (mostly islands in) the western
Mediterranean to the North Cape. Most of the breeding sites
are concentrated in an area spanning from Normandy, via the
West coasts of Britain and Ireland to Scotland and the Scottish
islands. There are only a few breeding grounds in the Gulf of
Biscaye and along the West coast of Norway.
Outside the breeding season they live on the open ocean or
in coastal waters, out to a line connecting roughly northern
Norway, southern Iceland and the Canary Islands.
European Storm-Petrels do not enter the North Sea or the
English Channel.
They also disperse into the eastern Mediterranean, but not
as far as the Bosporus or Cyprus.
When not breeding, European Storm-Petrels will mostly stay
on the high seas,
but they do also
enter coastal waters.
They breed on offshore islands.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
J. Pires
reports spotting European Storm-Petrels 5 NM off Sagres, Algarve,
Portugal, in October 2018.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by J. Pires.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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Slightly cropped near-frontal view of an European Storm-Petrel
apparently walking on water; note the broad white underwing bars
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]
Near-dorsal view of an European Storm-Petrel in low flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]
This comparison of an European Storm-Petrel with a
Northern Gannet
illustrates the enormous difference in size - the storm-petrel
is basically the size of the gannet's head
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
