Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-backed Storm Petrel
Garrodia nereis
Grey-backed Storm Petrel (Garrodia nereis) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
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The Grey-backed Storm Petrel (Garrodia nereis) is a member of the Oceanitidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 38.2 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 Oceanitidae Austral Storm Petrels
- Genus Garrodia
- Species nereis
Where it lives
Subantarctic islands: Falkland, South Georgia and Gough (southern Atlantic Ocean), Crozet and Kerguelen (southwestern, southeastern Indian Ocean), Macquarie (few; far southeast of Australia), Chatham, Antipodes and Auckland (eastern, southeastern, and south of South I., New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 38.2 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Oceanitidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Data Deficient
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-backed 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 Grey-backed Storm Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Grey-backed Storm Petrel (Garrodia nereis) is a species of austral storm petrels in the family Oceanitidae, order Procellariiformes. It is found in Oceans & Seabirds — subantarctic islands: Falkland, South Georgia and Gough (s Atlantic Ocean), Crozet and Kerguelen (sw, se Indian Ocean), Macquarie (few; far se of Australia), Chatham, Antipodes and Auckland (e, se, and s of South I., New Zealand).
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-backed Storm Petrel?
The Grey-backed Storm Petrel is a small bird that weighs around 38.2 g.
Where does the Grey-backed Storm Petrel live?
The Grey-backed Storm Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO subantarctic islands: Falkland, South Georgia and Gough (s Atlantic Ocean), Crozet and Kerguelen (sw, se Indian Ocean), Macquarie (few; far se of Australia), Chatham, Antipodes and Auckland (e, se, and s of South I., New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Grey-backed Storm Petrel belong to?
The Grey-backed Storm Petrel (Garrodia nereis) belongs to the Oceanitidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Grey-backed Storm Petrel eat?
The Grey-backed Storm Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Grey-backed Storm Petrel migrate?
The Grey-backed Storm Petrel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Grey-backed 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 Grey-backed Storm Petrel's range?
The Grey-backed Storm Petrel has a mapped global range of about 28.5 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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