Wilson's Storm Petrel [Oceanites oceanicus]
Description
The Wilson's Storm Petrel is a small bird species in the austral storm petrel family. They are one of the most abundant bird species in the world and are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They are notable for their distinctive flight pattern, which involves fluttering and hovering over the surface of the water. They feed primarily on planktonic crustaceans, small fish, and squid, which they pick from the water's surface while in flight. They are distinguished by their dark brown or black plumage, with a white rump and a square tail.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Albatrosses, Petrels, and Shearwaters
Procellariiformes
|
| Family |
Storm Petrels
Hydrobatidae
|
| Genus |
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Oceanites
|