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Fork-tailed Storm Petrel

Hydrobates furcatus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernFishMarineCavity nestSmall · 60 g
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 1
Photo: C. Schlawe · Public domain
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 2
Photo: Stanley, Carla · Public domain
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 3
Photo: unknown · Public domain
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 4
Photo: James St. John · CC BY 2.0
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 5
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters · Public domain
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 6
Photo: Spencer, D.L. - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 7
Photo: Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 · Public domain
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 8
Photo: Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 · Public domain
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 9
Photo: Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 · Public domain
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel (Hydrobates furcatus), photo 10
Photo: Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 · Public domain

ID tip

The fork-tailed storm petrel is small seabird that is 20 cm in length with a wingspan of 46 cm. Its foraging behaviour resembles other storm petrels, where it flies with short, stiff wingbeats close to the surface of the water. Despite its name, the forked tail in this bird is not always visible. The distinguishing feature of fork-tailed storm petrels is their overall bluish-gray plumage. They generally have a paler underside, which contrasts the darker colours under their wings. They also have a dark gray forehead, a black ear patch, and a small, black bill.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Fork-tailed Storm Petrel

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is August, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Fork-tailed Storm Petrel

Regular range

The map shades 4 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

United States Canada Russia Japan

About the Fork-tailed Storm Petrel

The fork-tailed storm petrel is a small seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. It is the second-most abundant and widespread storm petrel and is the only bird in its family that is bluish-grey in colour.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Ashy Storm Petrel (Hydrobates homochroa) Ashy Storm PetrelHydrobates homochroaThe ashy storm petrel is a small, scarce seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. Band-rumped Storm Petrel (Hydrobates castro) Band-rumped Storm PetrelHydrobates castroThe band-rumped storm petrel is 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in) in length with a 43–46 cm (17–18 in) wingspan, and weighs 44–49 g (1.6–1.7 oz). Black Storm Petrel (Hydrobates melania) Black Storm PetrelHydrobates melaniaThe black storm petrel is a small seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae.

Side by side: European Storm Petrel vs Fork-tailed Storm Petrel · Band-rumped Storm Petrel vs Fork-tailed Storm Petrel

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