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Most often seen in small, loose groups; sometimes feeds or rests on the water in a dense flock.
TAS: Near Threatened
Indigenous: Flat-Clawed Storm-Petrel, Wilson Storm-Petrel, Yellow-Webbed Storm-Petrel, Mother Carey's Chicken
At a glance
FamilySouthern Storm-Petrels
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from October to November.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Fabrice Schmitt
Range map
Range map
765visible hotspots
7532visible records
6states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Small and fluttery. Dark blackish-brown overall with even-width white rump patch and conspicuous pale wing panels. Long legs extend past the tail in flight; difficult to spot unless close. Eats plankton from the surface of the water. Vexed taxonomy might include several cryptic species. Breeds in Antarctica and islands in the southern oceans. Ranges across all oceans when not breeding, mainly from May to October, typically staying offshore but sometimes seen from land. Most common in North Atlantic.
Behavior
Frequently hovers and patters feet on surface of water when feeding. Most often seen in small, loose groups; sometimes feeds or rests on the water in a dense flock.
Gallery