Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel
NameFork-tailed Storm-Petrel
Common NameFork-tailed Storm-Petrel
Scientific NameHydrobates furcata
FamilyHydrobatidae
Wingspan (cm)43.5
Length (cm)21.5
Weight (g)50
Plumage DetailsOverall pale gray plumage, with darker primaries and secondaries creating a subtle M-pattern across the wings in flight. It has a dark patch around the eye and a prominent white bar on the underwing. The tail is distinctly forked.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea, but at breeding colonies, it produces soft, purring or churring calls, often described as a series of 'churr-churr-churr' or 'purr-purr-purr' sounds.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the North Pacific Ocean, breeding on islands from Alaska south to northern California, and west across the Aleutian Islands to the Kuril Islands. It disperses widely over the open ocean outside the breeding season.
Identifying Featuresforked tail, pale gray plumage, dark eye patch, white underwing bar, buoyant flight
Description
The Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel is a small, pelagic seabird characterized by its pale gray plumage and distinctive forked tail. It exhibits a buoyant, erratic flight pattern over the open ocean, often dipping to the surface to snatch food.
