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3

European Storm-Petrel

(Hydrobates pelagicus)
Alternate name(s): "British Storm-Petrel", "Storm-Petrel"
German name(s): "Sturmschwalbe"

Size: 14-18 cm; wing span 36-39 cm
Weight: 20-38 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See European Storm-Petrel at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

This comparison of a 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]

Near-lateral view of a European Storm-Petrel in flight, wings flat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-lateral view of a European Storm-Petrel in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of two European Storm-Petrels in flight, showing different phases of the wingbeat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a European Storm-Petrel moulting its secondaries (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a European Storm-Petrel moulting its secondaries (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a European Storm-Petrel moulting its secondaries (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a European Storm-Petrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Close-up dorsal view of a European Storm-Petrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Dorsal view of a European Storm-Petrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Slightly cropped near-frontal view of a European Storm-Petrel apparently walking on water; note the broad white underwing bars, indicating that this is a juvenile (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile European Storm-Petrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile European Storm-Petrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a juvenile European Storm-Petrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a European Storm-Petrel carrying away its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a European Storm-Petrel carrying away its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

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.

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