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Photo: Tony Morris from St Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel

Hydrobates matsudairae

Matsudaira's Storm Petrel (Hydrobates matsudairae) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.

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The Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates matsudairae) is a member of the Hydrobatidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 62 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Procellariiformes
  3. Family Hydrobatidae Northern Storm Petrels
  4. Genus Hydrobates
  5. Species matsudairae

Where it lives

Kita-Iwojima and Minami-Iwojima (Iwo=Volcano Is., south of Ogasawara=Bonin Is., south of Japan)

Quick facts

Weight
62 g
Family
Hydrobatidae

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Matsudaira’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 Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates matsudairae) is a member of the Hydrobatidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO, PO Kita-Iwojima and Minami-Iwojima (Iwo=Volcano Is., s of Ogasawara=Bonin Is., s of Japan).

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 62 g, with a wing length of about 18.5 cm and a tail of around 9.1 cm.

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.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel?

The Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 62 g.

Where does the Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel live?

The Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO, PO Kita-Iwojima and Minami-Iwojima (Iwo=Volcano Is., s of Ogasawara=Bonin Is., s of Japan), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel belong to?

The Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates matsudairae) belongs to the Hydrobatidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.

What does the Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel eat?

The Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel migrate?

The Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Matsudaira’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.

How large is the Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel's range?

The Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel has a mapped global range of about 8 km².

Conservation

Vulnerable

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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