Wilson's Storm Petrel
Oceanites oceanicus
The Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) is a uncommon southern storm petrel found in 66 countries, weighing about 30 g. Wilson's storm petrel, also known as Wilson's petrel, is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae.
About the Wilson's Storm Petrel
Wilson's storm petrel, also known as Wilson's petrel, is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is one of the most abundant bird species in the world and has a circumpolar distribution mainly in the seas of the southern hemisphere but extending northwards during the summer of the northern hemisphere. The world population was estimated in 2022 as stable at 8–20 million birds. In 2010 it had been estimated at 12–30 million. A 1998 book had estimated more than 50 million pairs. The name commemorates the Scottish-American ornithologist Alexander Wilson. The genus name Oceanites refers to the mythical Oceanids, the three thousand daughters of Tethys. The species name…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Wilson's storm petrel is a small bird, 16–18.5 cm (6.3–7.3 in) in length with a 38–42 cm (15–16.5 in) wingspan. It is slightly larger than the European storm petrel and is essentially dark brown in all plumages, except for the white rump and flanks. The feet extend just beyond the square ended tail in flight. The European storm petrel has a very distinct whitish lining to the underwing and a nearly all dark upperwing. Wilson's storm petrel has a diffuse pale band along the upper wing coverts and lacks the distinctive white underwing lining.
What the Wilson's Storm Petrel sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Taiwan, Mexico, Colombia, Morocco, Costa Rica, Mauritania, Gabon, China, Iceland, French Polynesia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Anguilla, Greenland, Grenada, Martinique, Panama, St. Barthélemy, Singapore.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, May, June, July, August, September, November, December, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Wilson's Storm Petrel?
- Wilson's storm petrel is a small bird, 16–18.5 cm (6.3–7.3 in) in length with a 38–42 cm (15–16.5 in) wingspan. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Wilson's Storm Petrel?
- The Wilson's Storm Petrel is a small sized bird weighing about 30 g.
- Where can you see a Wilson's Storm Petrel?
- The Wilson's Storm Petrel occurs in 66 countries, including the United States, Australia, Chile, Canada and India.
- What does a Wilson's Storm Petrel sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Wilson's Storm Petrel on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Wilson's Storm Petrel?
- The Wilson's Storm Petrel is most easily confused with the Elliot's Storm Petrel and the Pincoya Storm Petrel.
- Is the Wilson's Storm Petrel endangered?
- The Wilson's Storm Petrel is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Wilson's Storm Petrel for real
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