Procellariidae

Storm Petrels Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are rather small and often dark colored tubenoses with a world wide distribution. All have fine black bills with very pronounced tubes. Storm Petrels are separated in two groups: the longlegged, souther hemisphere birds subfamily Oceanitinae and the shorter legged species of moer northern seas the subfamily Hydrobatinae. The first groups shows more morphological differences than the second. Warham (1990) treated the morphological differences and will be cited below. The genera are characterisedon colour patterns, the condition of the nasal tubes, tail shape, structure of claws and proportions of the leg bones. 

Subfamily Oceanitinae

Genus Oceanites

Plumage black with white upper- and under-tail coverts and sometimes white on the abdomen; bil short, nasal tubes long (about half length of culme); tarsus booted (scales fused to a continuous sheath) or with obscure scutes; claws little flattened, webs yellow.

Genus Garrodia

Plumage grey on black, white below; bill short, nasal tubes about half length of culmen and upturned at end; tarsus scutellate in fornt, claws slightly flattened, webs black.

Genus Pelagodroma

Plumage grey and white; tails slightly forked; bill long, nasal tube < half culmen in length; tarsus booted in front, webs black, basal joint middle toe flattened, claws blunt and flattened.

White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca 1)
Selavagem Grande

Culmen: 16.8 mm; tube: 6.0 mm; total: 43.5 mm, unsexed adult

Genus Fregetta

Plumage black above, white below and white upper tail coverts; nasal tube free at end and upturned, < half culmen in length; tarsus booted in front, webs black, basal joint middle toe flattened, claws blunt and flattened.

Genus Nesofregetta

Large storm petrels; plumage black above, white throat and belly ranging to to all dark below; tail stronlgy forked; tarsus uniquely anterio-posteriorly flattened, unscaled; basal phalanges of toes longer than remainder of toe and claw; webs narrow; claws blunt and flattened.

Subfamily Hydrobatinae

Genus Halocyptena

Very small black petrels; bill weak, compressed and decirved; tail wedge shaped; wings rather long and pointed; tarsus rather short - slightly longer than mid-toe with claw and about half length of femur, claws narrow.

Genus Hydrobates

Small petrels; plumage black with white rump; tail square; tarsus scutelate in front, slightly longer than middle toe with claw and about half length of femur, claws narrow

British Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus.
Netherlands

Culmen: 15.2 mm; tube: 6.2 mm; total: 40.2 mm; unsexed adult
 

Genus Oceanodroma

Medium-sized petrels; plumage dark or greyish, often with pale rumps; tail more or less forked; tarsus short , middle toe with claw and scutellate; claws narrow.

Madeiran Storm Petrel Oceanodroma castro 2)

Villa Islet, Azores

Culmen: 13.5 mm; tube: 5.5 mm; total: 40.4 mm, unsexed adult

 
Leach's Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa 3)
Netherlands

Culmen: 16.5 mm; tube: 5.9 mm; total: 41.6 mm; unsexed adult

Fork-tailed Storm Petrel Oceanodroma furcata plumbea 4)
Alaska

Culmen: 15.1 mm; tube: 6.1 mm; total: 43.4 mm
 

1) Courtesy of B. Zonfrillo, Univ. of Glasgow, Scotland
2) Courtesy of Joel Bried, Univ. of Horta, Faial, Azores
3) Courtesy of Kees Camphuysen, NIOZ, Netherlands
4) Courtesy of Tasha, Alaska

Literature

  • Brooke, M., 2004, Albatrosses and Petrels across the World, Oxford University Press, Oxford
  • Lockley, R.M, 1983, Flight of the Storm Petrel, David & Charles, Newton Abbot, London
  • Warham, J., 1990, The Petrels, their Ecology and Breeding Systems, Academic Press, London
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