Townsend's Storm-Petrel
NameTownsend's Storm-Petrel
Common NameTownsend's Storm-Petrel
Scientific NameHydrobates socorroensis
FamilyHydrobatidae
Wingspan (cm)40
Length (cm)15
Weight (g)25
Plumage DetailsOverall sooty dark brown plumage with a prominent white rump patch. The tail is moderately forked, and the underwings are uniformly dark.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations at breeding colonies are nocturnal, consisting of chattering, purring, and cooing calls, often described as a series of rapid 'ch-ch-ch-ch-ch' notes.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusendangered
Geographic RangeBreeds exclusively on a few islands off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. After breeding, it disperses widely across the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Identifying Featuressmall size, dark sooty plumage, prominent white rump patch, forked tail, erratic, fluttering flight
Description
Townsend's Storm-Petrel is a small, dark seabird with a distinctive white rump patch. It exhibits an erratic, fluttering flight pattern as it forages low over the ocean surface, primarily at night during the breeding season.
