Head to head
Common Diving-petrel vs Storm-Petrel
Common Diving-petrel
VS Storm-Petrel
Both are small seabirds adapted to life at the ocean surface, but they use their wings for very different purposes there.
| Common Diving-petrel | Storm-Petrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pelecanoides urinatrix | Hydrobatidae |
| Classification level | A single specific species | A family of many species |
| Feeding technique | Flies underwater using its wings | Patters feet across the water's surface |
| Body build | Compact and stocky, built for diving | Small and light, built for fluttering flight |
| Breeding range | Islands across the Southern Hemisphere | Oceans worldwide |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern (most species) |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean |
Common Diving-petrel vs Storm-Petrel: common questions
Which one actually swims underwater using its wings?
The common diving-petrel is the one with this ability, using its wings to fly underwater in pursuit of prey, a technique not shared by the surface-pattering storm-petrel family.
Is the common diving-petrel part of the storm-petrel family?
No, the common diving-petrel belongs to its own separate family of diving-petrels, distinct from the broader storm-petrel family, Hydrobatidae, despite both being small, ocean-going seabirds.
Which one has a stockier, more compact body?
The common diving-petrel has the stockier build, suited to underwater swimming, while storm-petrels as a family have lighter, more delicate bodies built for fluttering flight.