Head to head
Elliot's Storm-petrel vs Grey-backed Storm-petrel
Elliot's Storm-petrel
VS Grey-backed Storm-petrel
Both storm-petrels forage closer to shore than most of their family, but they are tied to very different stretches of Southern Hemisphere coastline.
| Elliot's Storm-petrel | Grey-backed Storm-petrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Oceanites gracilis | Garrodia nereis |
| Distinguishing feature | A white patch under the tail | A pale grey back contrasting with dark wings |
| Habitat preference | Close to shore along the Humboldt Current | Calmer coastal and near-shore waters |
| Range | Peru and Chile | Scattered subantarctic islands |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Size | One of the smallest storm-petrels | One of the smaller storm-petrels |
| Habitat | Ocean, coastal | Ocean |
Elliot's Storm-petrel vs Grey-backed Storm-petrel: common questions
Which one is tied to the Humboldt Current specifically?
Elliot's storm-petrel is tied to this current, relying on its cold, productive waters along the coasts of Peru and Chile, unlike the grey-backed storm-petrel, which favours subantarctic islands instead.
Which one has a two-toned grey-and-dark back?
The grey-backed storm-petrel has this feature, a pale grey back contrasting sharply with darker wings, a pattern not shared by Elliot's storm-petrel.
Do both forage closer to shore than many other storm-petrels?
Yes, both species favour calmer, near-shore waters more than many of their ocean-roaming relatives, though they are tied to different stretches of Southern Hemisphere coastline.