Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel
NameSwinhoe's Storm-Petrel
Common NameSwinhoe's Storm-Petrel
Scientific NameHydrobates monorhis
FamilyHydrobatidae
Wingspan (cm)47
Length (cm)19.5
Weight (g)42.5
Plumage DetailsUniformly sooty-brown to blackish plumage across the entire body, with no distinct white markings. The flight feathers may appear slightly paler on the upperwing coverts, but this is subtle. The tail is notably forked.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea, but at breeding colonies, it produces soft, purring or churring calls, often described as a 'churr-churr-churr' or 'prrr-prrr-prrr'.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeBreeds on islands in the Northwest Pacific, including Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. During the non-breeding season, it disperses widely across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Entirely dark plumage, Deeply forked tail, Erratic, bat-like flight, Lack of white rump patch
Description
A small, dark seabird, Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel is characterized by its entirely sooty-brown plumage and deeply forked tail. It exhibits an erratic, bat-like flight pattern, typically skimming low over the ocean surface.
