Species Profile
European Storm-petrel
Hydrobates pelagicus
Storm Petrel
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: British Storm-petrel, Storm Petrel
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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.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Black
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Black
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & 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.
Distribution
Where to See This Bird
Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.
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.
Calls & Sounds
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.
Conservation
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.
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
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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