Photo: Cato Neimoidia / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Storm Petrel
Hydrobates melania
Black Storm Petrel (Hydrobates melania) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
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The Black Storm Petrel (Hydrobates melania) is a member of the Hydrobatidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 61.5 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 Hydrobatidae Northern Storm Petrels
- Genus Hydrobates
- Species melania
Where it lives
Channel Is. (west of southern California), Is. de San Benito (west of central Baja California), Roca Consag, Isla San Luis, Isla Partida and Isla Cardonosa Este (east of northern, north-central, central Baja California, Gulf of California)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 61.5 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Hydrobatidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Extinct
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black 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 Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Black Storm Petrel (Hydrobates melania) is a species of bird in the Hydrobatidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Channel Is. (w of s California), Is. de San Benito (w of c Baja California), Roca Consag, Isla San Luis, Isla Partida and Isla Cardonosa Este (e of n, nc, c Baja California, Gulf of California).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 61.5 g, with a wing length of about 17.2 cm and a tail of around 8.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 38 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Storm Petrel?
The Black Storm Petrel is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 61.5 g.
Where does the Black Storm Petrel live?
The Black Storm Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Channel Is. (w of s California), Is. de San Benito (w of c Baja California), Roca Consag, Isla San Luis, Isla Partida and Isla Cardonosa Este (e of n, nc, c Baja California, Gulf of California), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black Storm Petrel belong to?
The Black Storm Petrel (Hydrobates melania) belongs to the Hydrobatidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Black Storm Petrel eat?
The Black Storm Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Black Storm Petrel migrate?
The Black Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Black 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.
How large is the Black Storm Petrel's range?
The Black Storm Petrel has a mapped global range of about 38 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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