Introduction
Northern storm-petrels – Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae. Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family
Fun Fact 1: Long Distance Traveler’s
Despite their small size and delicate appearance, these remarkable seabirds are incredibly resilient, capable of traveling thousands of miles over open ocean without ever touching land. They often navigate vast distances to find food, relying on their keen senses and remarkable endurance to survive in some of the world’s most challenging marine environments.
| Leach’s Storm Petrel | Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel | |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Leach’s Storm Petrel
The Leach’s Storm Petrel is a notably sizable seabird, distinguished by its elongated wings and deeply forked tail. Across its wide geographical range, there exists a subtle yet intricate variation in its appearance. In flight, it exhibits a distinctive bat-like motion, characterized by bounding movements and sudden twists and turns. In optimal lighting conditions, its plumage appears a rich chocolate-brown hue, often displaying a prominent buffy bar on the upper wing.
Common Name:Â Leach’s Storm Petrel
Scientific Name:Â Hydrobates leucorhous
Recorded Sightings:Â Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti – Lau – Rotuma
Image Supplied:Â Unknown
Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel
Dark brown, lanky seabird, large and long-billed for a storm-petrel, with long, angular wings Breeds on southern Japanese islands and winters in the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans. Powerful, slow flight style contrasts with swifter flight of smaller species, but Matsudaira’s tail is forked, not wedge-shaped. Bright white shafts of the primary feathers give it an almost skua-like appearance, even from a distance.
Common Name:Â Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel
Scientific Name:Â Hydrobates matsudairae
Recorded Sightings:Â Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti – Lau – Rotuma
Image Supplied:Â Tony Morris (2012)
NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is Fiji’s only domestic NGO working solely for the conservation and sustainable management of Fiji’s unique natural heritage – Link
That’s all, folks! No extra info to dig into this time!
Just a quick note—no footnotes to add this time!
- Jacob, H. (2016, April 23). Leach’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) [Video]. Macaulay Library. Link
- Lours, Alexis. “Leach’s Storm Petrel.” Photograph. Wikipedia. Accessed June 25, 2024. Link
- Morris, Tony. “Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel.” Photograph. Wikipedia. Accessed June 25, 2024. Link
- Muzika, Y. (2021, July 10). Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates matsudairae) [Video]. Macaulay Library. Link
- Tessaglia-Hymes, D. (1996, July 31). Leach’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) [Audio]. Macaulay Library. Link