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Hydrobatidae - Storm Petrels

There are 23 species of small seabirds in this family. They are found on temperate and tropical oceans around the world.

They are dark brown or black with white markings. They have long, pointed wings and tubular nostrils.

Storm petrels only come onto land to nest. They arrive on their nesting islands at night and nest in colonies. Females lay a single egg in a burrow in the ground. Both the male and female incubate the egg.

Storm petrels fly low and close to the surface of the water where they catch fish, crustaceans, and plankton. Some species migrate.

  • The New Zealand storm-petrel is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    New Zealand Storm-Petrel
    (Fregetta maoriana)
    The New Zealand storm-petrel is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
  • The gray-backed storm-petrel has a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Hemisphere. It is found in Argentina, Australia, Chile, the Falkland Islands, the French Southern Territories, New Zealand, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray-Backed Storm-Petrel
    (Garrodia nereis)
    The gray-backed storm-petrel has a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Hemisphere. It is found in Argentina, Australia, Chile, the Falkland Islands, the French Southern Territories, New Zealand, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The European storm-petrel is found in Denmark's Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    European Storm-Petrel
    (Hydrobates pelagicus)
    The European storm-petrel is found in Denmark's Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The fork-tailed storm-petrel breeds in the North Pacific. In the U.S. it is found from Alaska south to California. It also breeds on the Kuril Islands in Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Fork-Tailed Storm-Petrel
    (Hydrobates furcatus)
    The fork-tailed storm-petrel breeds in the North Pacific. In the U.S. it is found from Alaska south to California. It also breeds on the Kuril Islands in Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The ringed storm-petrel breeds in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Peru and Chile. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Ringed Storm-Petrel
    (Hydrobates hornbyi)
    The ringed storm-petrel breeds in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Peru and Chile. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • Wilson's storm-petrel breeds on subantarctic islands from Cape Horn, Chile east to the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. It can be found in the waters off the New Hampshire coast in non-breeding season. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Wilson's Storm-Petrel
    (Oceanites oceanicus)
    Wilson's storm-petrel breeds on subantarctic islands from Cape Horn, Chile east to the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. It can be found in the waters off the New Hampshire coast in non-breeding season. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The white-vented storm-petrel is found the eastern Pacific Ocean in Chile, Colombia, the Galápagos Islands, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Data Deficient
    White-Vented Storm-Petrel
    (Oceanites gracilis)
    The white-vented storm-petrel is found the eastern Pacific Ocean in Chile, Colombia, the Galápagos Islands, and Peru. IUCN Redlist Status: Data Deficient
  • During breeding season, Leach's storm-petrels are nocturnal and spend the day in underground burrows. They breed on islands in the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They can be found off the coast of New Hampshire, but they do not breed there. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Leach's Storm-Petrel
    (Hydrobates leucorhous)
    During breeding season, Leach's storm-petrels are nocturnal and spend the day in underground burrows. They breed on islands in the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They can be found off the coast of New Hampshire, but they do not breed there. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The white-faced storm-petrel breeds on remote islands in the south Atlantic and on the coast Australia and New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-Faced Storm-Petrel
    (Pelagodroma marina)
    The white-faced storm-petrel breeds on remote islands in the south Atlantic and on the coast Australia and New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

The fork-tailed storm petrel is one of the species found in this family.
The fork-tailed storm petrel is one of the species found in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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