Band-rumped Storm-Petrel
NameBand-rumped Storm-Petrel
Common NameBand-rumped Storm-Petrel
Scientific NameHydrobates castro
FamilyHydrobatidae
Wingspan (cm)44
Length (cm)20
Weight (g)50
Plumage DetailsOverall sooty-brown to blackish plumage, with a prominent white band across the rump that contrasts sharply with the dark tail and back. The underparts and underwings are uniformly dark.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea, but produces various purring, churring, and squeaking calls within its nocturnal breeding colonies, often described as a series of soft, guttural notes.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds on oceanic islands in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic (e.g., Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde) and Pacific Oceans (e.g., Galapagos, Hawaii, Japan). Disperses widely over open ocean outside the breeding season.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Dark overall plumage, Prominent white rump band, Long-winged, erratic flight, Often seen pattering on water surface
Description
A small, dark seabird characterized by its distinctive white rump. This pelagic species spends most of its life at sea, exhibiting an erratic, bat-like flight as it skims the ocean surface for food.
