European Storm Petrel

Hydrobates pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

25 gWeight

The European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus), also known as British storm petrel, or just storm petrel, is a species of seabird in the northern storm petrel family, Hydrobatidae.

Busiest months: August · Most records: Ireland, United Kingdom, Portugal

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: August · Most records: Ireland, United Kingdom, Portugal

European Storm Petrel has been recorded at 112 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 21 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Bridges of RossIreland702 records
PN Sintra-Cascais – Cabo RasoPortugal352 records
Estaca de Bares – Observatorio de aves y entornoSpain273 records

More places

SkokholmUnited Kingdom250 records
Cape Clear IslandIreland110 records
Fair IsleUnited Kingdom99 records
Calf of ManIsle of Man73 records
Garður – Garðskagi lighthouseIceland62 records
Severn BeachUnited Kingdom59 records
Vestmannaeyjar ferryIceland55 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Ireland United Kingdom Portugal Spain Iceland Isle of Man France Morocco

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

About

The European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus), also known as British storm petrel, or just storm petrel, is a species of seabird in the northern storm petrel family, Hydrobatidae. The small, square-tailed bird is entirely black except for a broad, white rump and a white band on the under wings, and it has a fluttering, bat-like flight. The large majority of the population breeds on islands off the northern coasts of Europe, with the greatest numbers in the Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the European Storm Petrel?

The European Storm Petrel weighs around 25 g.

Where does the European Storm Petrel live?

Its breeding range: Atlantic Ocean: islets of northeastern North Atlantic from southern Iceland and central Norway to northern Spain, Canary Islands (central Macaronesia, west of northwestern Africa), western Africa, and western, north-central Mediterranean Sea. It is most often recorded in Ireland, United Kingdom and Portugal.

When is the best time to see the European Storm Petrel?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in August (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the European Storm Petrel endangered?

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

What does the European Storm Petrel eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the European Storm Petrel in?

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

At a glance

Weight: 25 g
Habitat: Ocean
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: Feeds in the air
Migration: Migratory
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 119 mm
Tail: 55 mm
Bill: 14 mm
Tarsus: 22 mm

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

Range

Atlantic Ocean: islets of northeastern North Atlantic from southern Iceland and central Norway to northern Spain, Canary Islands (central Macaronesia, west of northwestern Africa), western Africa, and western, north-central Mediterranean Sea

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2