Photo: Júlio Reis / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
European Storm Petrel
Hydrobates pelagicus
European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) — 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 European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) is a member of the Hydrobatidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 25.2 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 pelagicus
Where it lives
Islets of northeastern North Atlantic from southern Iceland and central Norway to northern Spain, Canary Is. (central Macaronesia, west of northwestern Africa), western Africa, and western, north-central Mediterranean Sea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 25.2 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Hydrobatidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The European 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 European Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) belongs to the Hydrobatidae family of the order Procellariiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AO islets of ne North Atlantic from s Iceland and c Norway to n Spain, Canary Is. (c Macaronesia, w of nw Africa), w Africa, and w, nc Mediterranean Sea.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 25.2 g, with a wing length of about 11.9 cm and a tail of around 5.5 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 50.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the European Storm Petrel?
The European Storm Petrel is a small bird that weighs around 25.2 g.
Where does the European Storm Petrel live?
The European Storm Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AO islets of ne North Atlantic from s Iceland and c Norway to n Spain, Canary Is. (c Macaronesia, w of nw Africa), w Africa, and w, nc Mediterranean Sea, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the European Storm Petrel belong to?
The European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) belongs to the Hydrobatidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the European Storm Petrel eat?
The European Storm Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the European Storm Petrel migrate?
The European Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the European 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 European Storm Petrel make?
1 real field recording of the European Storm Petrel — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the European Storm Petrel's range?
The European Storm Petrel has a mapped global range of about 50.3 million 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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