The Wilson’s Storm-petrel primarily lives around Antarctica. However, it will occaisionally venture north of the equator. They only come to shore to mate and nest. They spend almost all of their time at sea and it takes a severe storm to bring them in sight of land.
Classification:
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Hydrobatidae
Genus: Oceanites
Species: O. oceanicus
Photos:
One, two, three
Wilson’s Storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)
Oceanites oceanicus This is thought to be one of the most abundant bird species in the world, with a population in the billions, but because it breeds on remote islands near Antarctica, and spends the southern winter/northern summer well offshore in the North Atlantic, most people will never see one. It flutters and dances across the water, tapping the surface with its feet to stir up food. Atlantic near Hydrographer Canyon, south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA, 27 August 2005 Canon 20D, Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS
Video:
Discussion:
Anthony McGeehan’s Pelagic off Inishbofin Island Co. Galway Summer 2008
I have always been a bit wary … Read more…
Tails of Birding: The Bird That Dances on Water
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel… Read more…
This was my first summer pelag… Read more…
