Photo: Alexis Lours / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Leach’s Storm Petrel
Hydrobates leucorhous
Leach's Storm Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) — 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 Leach’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) is a member of the Hydrobatidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 36.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Hydrobatidae Northern Storm Petrels
- Genus Hydrobates
- Species leucorhous
Where it lives
Northeastern Atlantic from southern Iceland, Faroe Is., central Norway, Ireland and Scotland; northwestern Atlantic from southern Labrador to Massachusetts; northwestern Pacific from northeastern Russia and northeastern Japan to Alaska and northern, central Baja California (northwestern Mexico); also off southwestern Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 36.7 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Hydrobatidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Leach’s 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 Leach’s Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Leach's Storm Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) is a species of northern storm petrels in the family Hydrobatidae, order Procellariiformes. It is found in Oceans & Seabirds — ne Atlantic from s Iceland, Faroe Is., c Norway, Ireland and Scotland; nw Atlantic from s Labrador to Massachusetts; nw Pacific from ne Russia and ne Japan to Alaska and n, c Baja California (nw Mexico); also off sw Africa.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Leach’s Storm Petrel?
The Leach’s Storm Petrel is a small bird that weighs around 36.7 g.
Where does the Leach’s Storm Petrel live?
The Leach’s Storm Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO, AO ne Atlantic from s Iceland, Faroe Is., c Norway, Ireland and Scotland; nw Atlantic from s Labrador to Massachusetts; nw Pacific from ne Russia and ne Japan to Alaska and n, c Baja California (nw Mexico); also off sw Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Leach’s Storm Petrel belong to?
The Leach’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) belongs to the Hydrobatidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Leach’s Storm Petrel eat?
The Leach’s Storm Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Leach’s Storm Petrel migrate?
The Leach’s Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Leach’s Storm Petrel endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Leach’s Storm Petrel make?
1 real field recording of the Leach’s 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 Leach’s Storm Petrel's range?
The Leach’s Storm Petrel has a mapped global range of about 110 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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