Photo: John Gould / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-bellied Storm Petrel
Fregetta tropica
Black-bellied Storm Petrel (Fregetta tropica) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel (Fregetta tropica) is a member of the Oceanitidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 52 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Oceanitidae Austral Storm Petrels
- Genus Fregetta
- Species tropica
Where it lives
Circumpolar subantarctic islands of South Georgia, Antarctic Pen., Bouvetoya (southwest of southern Africa), Tristan da Cunha perhaps including Gough (south-central Atlantic Ocean); Prince Edward, Crozet and Kerguelen (southwest to southeastern Indian Ocean), Bounty, Antipodes and Auckland is. (southeastern and south of South I., New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Oceanitidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel (Fregetta tropica) is a species of austral storm petrels in the family Oceanitidae, order Procellariiformes. It is found in Oceans & Seabirds — circumpolar subantarctic islands of South Georgia, Antarctic Pen., Bouvetoya (sw of s Africa), Tristan da Cunha perhaps including Gough (sc Atlantic Ocean); Prince Edward, Crozet and Kerguelen (sw to se Indian Ocean), Bounty, Antipodes and Auckland is. (se and s of South I., New Zealand).
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-bellied Storm Petrel?
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52 g.
Where does the Black-bellied Storm Petrel live?
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO circumpolar subantarctic islands of South Georgia, Antarctic Pen., Bouvetoya (sw of s Africa), Tristan da Cunha perhaps including Gough (sc Atlantic Ocean); Prince Edward, Crozet and Kerguelen (sw to se Indian Ocean), Bounty, Antipodes and Auckland is. (se and s of South I., New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black-bellied Storm Petrel belong to?
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel (Fregetta tropica) belongs to the Oceanitidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Black-bellied Storm Petrel eat?
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Black-bellied Storm Petrel migrate?
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Black-bellied Storm Petrel endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-bellied Storm Petrel make?
1 real field recording of the Black-bellied Storm Petrel — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-bellied Storm Petrel's range?
The Black-bellied Storm Petrel has a mapped global range of about 29,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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