Birds · Procellariiformes · Hydrobatidae

Wilson's Storm Petrel

Oceanites oceanicus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Wilson's storm petrel is a tiny seabird and probably one of the most abundant birds on the planet, with a population estimated in the tens of millions. It breeds in Antarctica and on the subantarctic islands and migrates north as far as the waters of the North Atlantic and the Pacific, crossing the equator. It feeds by pattering on the surface of the water with its feet while holding itself aloft, a characteristic fluttering that makes it look as though it is walking on the sea.

Weight

30 g – 45 g

Size

16 cm – 19 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

It seems to walk on water: it holds itself aloft on its wings while pattering the surface with its feet to stir up plankton, behaviour that gave the group its English name, petrel, in reference to Saint Peter walking on the waves.
It is one of the most abundant birds in the world, with tens of millions of individuals, and at the same time one of the least seen: it spends its life on the open sea and only comes ashore at night at Antarctic colonies.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: The open sea of every ocean; it breeds in crevices and burrows in Antarctica and on the subantarctic islands
Sexual maturity: 4 years
Gestation / incubation: 42 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 1 egg

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanites_oceanicus