Black Storm Petrel

Hydrobates melania (Bonaparte, 1854)

62 gWeight

Most records: United States, Mexico, Costa Rica

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Black Storm Petrel has been recorded at 11 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 4 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Pt. Pinos – seawatch onlyUnited States20 records
Reserva Ecológica Estero de San José del CaboMexico8 records
PN Corcovado – Sector SirenaCosta Rica6 records

More places

Ayampe – Ruta del ColibríEcuador3 records
Laguna San PanchoMexico2 records
Pt. PinosUnited States2 records
Bodega Bay – harbor and immediate vicinityUnited States2 records
Southeast Farallon IslandUnited States2 records
Bolsa Chica – walkbridge/inner bayUnited States1 record
Hayward Regional ShorelineUnited States1 record

Countries and regions with the most records

United States Mexico Costa Rica Ecuador

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

Questions

How big is the Black Storm Petrel?

The Black Storm Petrel weighs around 62 g.

Where does the Black Storm Petrel live?

Its breeding range: Pacific Ocean: Channel Islands (west of southern California), Islands de San Benito (west of central Baja California), Roca Consag, Isla San Luis, Isla Partida and Isla Cardonosa Este (east of northern, north-central, central Baja California, Gulf of California). It is most often recorded in United States, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Is the Black Storm Petrel endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black Storm Petrel as Least Concern.

What does the Black Storm Petrel eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Black Storm Petrel in?

It belongs to the family Northern Storm Petrels (Hydrobatidae), order Procellariiformes.

At a glance

Weight: 62 g
Habitat: Ocean
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: Feeds in the air
Migration: Migratory
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 172 mm
Tail: 81 mm
Bill: 18 mm
Tarsus: 30 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Pacific Ocean: Channel Islands (west of southern California), Islands de San Benito (west of central Baja California), Roca Consag, Isla San Luis, Isla Partida and Isla Cardonosa Este (east of northern, north-central, central Baja California, Gulf of California)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2