Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols
MarineCavity nestSmall · 47 g
ID tip
Commonly, the white-faced storm petrel is 19 to 21 centimetres (7.5 to 8.3 in) in length with a 41 to 44 centimetres (16 to 17 in) wingspan and 40 to 70 grams body mass. The key characteristics of this species include dark bill, tarsi, toes and claws. It has a pale brown to grey back, rump and wings with black flight feathers. It is white below, unlike other north Atlantic petrels, and has a white face with a black eye mask like a phalarope. Its distinctive grey-brown dorsal side plumage makes it one of the easier petrels to identify at sea from a distance.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the White-faced Storm Petrel
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 8 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.
Where to see the White-faced Storm Petrel
The map shades 13 countries with regular records, and 8 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Canada, Morocco, South Africa, Fiji, India, Oman, Kiribati.
About the White-faced Storm Petrel
The white-faced storm petrel, also known as white-faced petrel or frigate petrel, is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Pelagodroma. It is widely distributed across the northern and southern hemisphere, especially around the coastal and open ocean waters of southern Australia, New Zealand, Tristan da Cunha, Cabo Verde, the Canary islands and the Selvagens islands.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Elliot's Storm PetrelOceanites gracilisElliot's storm petrel is a species of seabird in the storm petrel family Oceanitidae.
Grey-backed Storm PetrelGarrodia nereisGrey-backed storm petrel is a small bird, 21-44 g in weight with a 39–40 cm wingspan.
Black-bellied Storm PetrelFregetta tropicaThey are usually black with a white band over the rump and white under the wings and on the flanks.
Side by side: Grey-backed Storm Petrel vs White-faced Storm Petrel · Black-bellied Storm Petrel vs White-faced Storm Petrel
Learn the White-faced Storm Petrel in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.