Head to head
Grey-backed Storm-petrel vs Wilson's Storm-petrel
Grey-backed Storm-petrel
VS Wilson's Storm-petrel
Both storm-petrels patter their feet across the water to feed, but they differ in size, range, and overall global abundance.
| Grey-backed Storm-petrel | Wilson's Storm-petrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Garrodia nereis | Oceanites oceanicus |
| Distinguishing feature | A pale grey back contrasting with dark wings | Possibly the most numerous seabird on Earth |
| Foraging range | Calmer, near-shore coastal waters | Nearly every ocean worldwide |
| Size | One of the smaller storm-petrels | Sparrow-sized, among the smallest seabirds |
| Breeding range | Scattered subantarctic islands | The Antarctic continent and subantarctic islands |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Ocean | Ocean, polar |
Grey-backed Storm-petrel vs Wilson's Storm-petrel: common questions
Which one might be the most numerous seabird on Earth?
Wilson's storm-petrel is considered a strong candidate for this title, with an estimated population in the tens of millions, far exceeding what is documented for the grey-backed storm-petrel.
Which one forages closer to shore?
The grey-backed storm-petrel forages closer to shore, favouring calmer coastal waters, while Wilson's storm-petrel instead ranges across nearly every ocean basin in the world.
Which one has a distinctive two-toned back pattern?
The grey-backed storm-petrel has this feature, a pale grey back contrasting sharply with darker wings, a pattern not documented on Wilson's storm-petrel.