Birds
Grey-backed Storm-petrel
Garrodia nereis · also called grey-backed storm petrel
Marked by a pale grey back set sharply against darker wings, a grey-backed storm-petrel favours calmer coastal waters closer to shore than many of its ocean-roaming relatives, pattering its feet across the surface in search of tiny prey.
Overview
The grey-backed storm-petrel, Garrodia nereis, is a Least Concern seabird native to ocean habitat across scattered subantarctic islands, including the Falklands, South Georgia, and islands south of New Zealand. Its distinctive two-toned plumage, preference for near-shore foraging, and compact size make it one of the more visually distinctive small seabirds found across the subantarctic Southern Ocean.
A storm-petrel that stays closer to home
While many storm-petrels roam vast stretches of open ocean far from any coastline, the grey-backed storm-petrel instead favours calmer, more sheltered waters nearer to shore, a subtly different foraging strategy from many of its wide-ranging relatives.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across its scattered subantarctic breeding islands.
Grey-backed Storm-petrel: common questions
How can you identify a grey-backed storm-petrel?
This species has a distinctive pale grey back that contrasts sharply with darker wings, a pattern that gives the species its common name and helps separate it from similar storm-petrel species.
Where does the grey-backed storm-petrel usually feed?
This species tends to forage over calmer coastal and near-shore waters more than many other storm-petrel species, which typically range further out into open ocean to find food.
Where does the grey-backed storm-petrel breed?
This species breeds in burrows or rock crevices on remote subantarctic islands, including the Falklands, South Georgia, and islands south of New Zealand, visiting its nest only at night.
How does the grey-backed storm-petrel catch its food?
This species forages by hovering just above the sea surface and pattering its feet rapidly against the water, a technique shared across the wider storm-petrel family of seabirds.