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Austral Storm Petrels

Southern storm petrels are small ocean birds whose long legs and light bodies allow characteristic surface-feeding movements. Some patter across the water while fluttering, taking tiny marine organisms near the surface. Examples include Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), Grey-backed Storm Petrel (Garrodia nereis), and White-faced Storm Petrel (Pelagodroma marina). Plumage ranges from predominantly dark to strongly contrasting pale underparts and rump patches. Their flight can appear delicate even in windy offshore conditions. Wilson's Storm Petrel is a familiar long-distance traveller, whereas other members occupy narrower marine regions; foot colour, rump pattern and the style of surface contact provide distinct comparison points.

How to recognize Austral Storm Petrels

  • Bill: small dark bills.
  • Outline: small bodies with long legs and narrow wings.
  • Feeding: pattering or dipping at the sea surface for food.

Where they live

Breeding colonies occur mainly on southern islands and coasts, but several species disperse far beyond those sites outside breeding. Offshore waters provide feeding habitat, with productive fronts and other concentrations of prey attracting birds. Nesting often occurs in concealed sites on land, making colony visits quite different from daytime sightings at sea. A species' breeding island and its nonbreeding ocean range should therefore be recorded as separate parts of its annual distribution.

Species accounts: Wilson's Storm Petrel · Grey-backed Storm Petrel · White-faced Storm Petrel

Sources — natural history: Wikipedia: Austral Storm Petrels natural history · Cornell Birds of the World: Wilson's Storm Petrel species account.

Classification: IOC World Bird List: family names and classification.

Some Cornell Birds of the World account sections require a subscription.

Updated 2026-11-06. Species counts follow this site's catalogue. This is an editorial summary, not an expert peer review.

Explore similarities in appearance, feeding and habitat. These comparisons do not necessarily indicate the closest evolutionary relatives.

Species records retain their original English, Chinese and scientific names.

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Wilson's Storm PetrelWilson's Storm PetrelOceanites oceanicusElliot's Storm PetrelElliot's Storm PetrelOceanites gracilisPincoya Storm PetrelPincoya Storm PetrelOceanites pincoyaeGrey-backed Storm PetrelGrey-backed Storm PetrelGarrodia nereisWhite-faced Storm PetrelWhite-faced Storm PetrelPelagodroma marinaWhite-bellied Storm PetrelWhite-bellied Storm PetrelFregetta grallariaBlack-bellied Storm PetrelBlack-bellied Storm PetrelFregetta tropicaNew Caledonian Storm PetrelNew Caledonian Storm PetrelFregetta lineataNew Zealand Storm PetrelNew Zealand Storm PetrelFregetta maorianaPolynesian Storm PetrelPolynesian Storm PetrelNesofregetta fuliginosa