Wilson's storm petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), also known as Wilson's petrel, is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is one of the most abundant bird species in the world and has a circumpolar distribution mainly in the seas of the southern hemisphere but extending northwards during the summer of the northern hemisphere. The world population was estimated in 2022 as stable at 8 to 20 million birds.[2] In 2010 it had been estimated at 12-30 million.[3] A 1998 book had estimated more than 50 million pairs.[4] The name commemorates the Scottish-American ornithologist Alexander Wilson. The genus name Oceanites refers to the mythical Oceanids, the three thousand daughters of Tethys. The species name is from Latinoceanus, "ocean".[5]
Wilson's Storm Petrel showing the distinctive markings across the upper wingWilson's Storm Petrel pattering across water during feeding
Originally described in the genus Procellaria it has been placed under the genus Oceanites. Two or three subspecies are recognized and one population maorianus from New Zealand may be extinct. The nominate population breeds from Cape Horn to the Kerguelen Islands while exasperatus breeds along the Antarctic coast in the South Shetland and other islands. The population from Tierra del Fuego was described as chilensis (=wollastoni, magellanicus) but this is considered a nomen nudum although some authors have reinstated it, noting that it can be distinguished by white mottling on the belly.[6][7]
The name Mother Carey's chicken was used in early literature and often applied to several petrel species while the generic name of stormy petrel referred to the idea that their appearance foretold stormy weather. F. M. Littler and others called it the yellow-webbed storm-petrel.[8]
Descriptionedit
Wilson's Storm Petrel with distinctive yellow webbing between feet
Wilson's storm petrel is a small bird, 16–18.5 cm (6.3–7.3 in) in length with a 38–42 cm (15–16.5 in) wingspan. It is slightly larger than the European storm petrel and is essentially dark brown in all plumages, except for the white rump and flanks. The feet extend just beyond the square ended tail in flight. The European storm petrel has a very distinct whitish lining to the underwing and a nearly all dark upperwing. Wilson's storm petrel has a diffuse pale band along the upper wing coverts and lacks the distinctive white underwing lining.[9] The webbing between the toes is yellow with black spots in pre-breeding age individuals.[10][11]
Distribution and habitatedit
This species breeds on the Antarctic coastlines and nearby islands such as the South Shetland Islands during the summer of the southern hemisphere. It spends the rest of the year at sea, and moves into the northern oceans in the southern hemisphere's winter. It is much more common in the north Atlantic than the Pacific. Wilson's storm petrel is common off eastern North America in the northern summer and the seasonal abundance of this bird in suitable European waters has been revealed through pelagic boat trips, most notably in the area of the Isles of Scilly and Great Britain.
It is strictly pelagic outside the breeding season, and this, together with its remote breeding sites, makes Wilson's petrel a difficult bird to see from land. Only in severe storms might this species be pushed into headlands.
Behaviour and ecologyedit
Wilson's storm petrel has a more direct gliding flight than other small petrels, and like most others it flies low over the seas surface and has the habit of pattering on the water surface as it picks planktonic food items from the ocean surface. Their unique fluttering and hovering flight is achieved often with their wings held high. Even in calm weather, they can make use of the slight breeze produced by the waves and in effect soar while using their feet to stabilize themselves.[12] Like the European storm petrel, it is highly gregarious, and will also follow ships and fishing boats. A soft peeping noise is often heard while the birds are feeding. They feed predominantly on planktonic invertebrates close to the surface, rarely plunging below the surface to capture prey. They may however sometimes take 3–8 cm long fish in the family Myctophidae.[13]
At 40 g on average, it is the smallest warm-blooded animal that breeds in the Antarctic region.[14] It nests in colonies close to the sea in rock crevices or small burrows in soft earth and lays a single white egg. Like most petrels, its walking ability is limited to a short shuffle to the burrow. In the Antarctic, nests may sometimes get snowed over leading to destruction of the nest or chicks. This storm petrel is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by larger gulls and skuas, and will even avoid coming to land on clear moonlit nights. Both parents tend the nest and feed the single chick.[15] The chicks call and beg for food, more vigorously when hungry.[16] Chicks remain at nest for about 60 days and are fed on krill, fish and amphipods.[17] Adults have the ability to identify their nest burrows[18] in the dark and their mates by olfactory cues.[19]
Population estimates in Antarctica evaluate the species to have about between 105 and 106 pairs.[20] Widespread throughout its large range, Wilson's storm petrel is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abBirdLife International (2018). "Oceanites oceanicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22698436A132646007. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22698436A132646007.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^"Oceanites oceanicus — Wilson's Storm-Petrel". Australian Government. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
^Newton, Ian (1998). Population limitation in birds. Academic Press. p. 3. ISBN9780080879239.
^Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 279. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Dowdall, J.; Enright, S.; Fahy, K.; Gilligan, J.; Lillie, G.; O'Keeffe, M. (2009). "Unidentified storm petrels off Puerto Montt, Chile, in February 2009". Dutch Birding. 31 (4): 218–222.
^Mayr E; G W Cottrell, eds. (1979). Check-list of birds of the World. volume 1 (2nd ed.). Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge Massachusetts. pp. 103–104.
^Littler, F.M. (1910). A Handbook of the Birds of Tasmania and its dependencies. Self published. pp. 157–159.
^Flood, Robert L.; Thomas, Bryan (2007). "Identification of 'black-and-white' storm-petrels of the North Atlantic" (PDF). British Birds. 100 (7): 407–442.
^Quillfeldt, Petra; Schmoll, Tim; Peter, Hans-Ulrich (2000). "The use of foot web coloration for the estimation of prebreeder numbers in Wilson's storm-petrels, Oceanites oceanicus". Polar Biology. 23 (11): 802–804. doi:10.1007/s003000000167. S2CID 2791681.
^Harrison, Peter (1983). "Identification of white-rumped North Atlantic petrels". British Birds. 76 (4): 161–174.
^Withers, P.C. (1979). "Aerodynamics and hydrodynamics of the 'hovering' flight of Wilson's Storm Petrel" (PDF). J. Exp. Biol. 80: 83–91.
^Croxall, J.P.; North, A.W. (1988). "Fish prey of Wilson's storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus at South Georgia (Antarctica)" (PDF). British Antarctic Survey Bulletin. 78: 37–42.
^Obst, B.S.; Nagy, Kenneth A.; Ricklefs, Robert E. (1987). "Energy Utilization by Wilson's Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)". Physiological Zoology. 60 (2): 200–210. doi:10.1086/physzool.60.2.30158644. S2CID 88376493.
^Gladbach, A.; Braun, C.; Nordt, A.; Peter, H-U; Quillfeldt, P. (2009). "Chick provisioning and nest attendance of male and female Wilson's storm petrels Oceanites oceanicus" (PDF). Polar Biology. 32 (9): 1315–1321. doi:10.1007/s00300-009-0628-z. S2CID 37852156.
^Quillfeldt, P. (2002). "Begging in the absence of sibling competition in Wilson's storm-petrels, Oceanites oceanicus". Animal Behaviour. 64 (4): 579–587. doi:10.1006/anbe.2002.3090. S2CID 53145763.
^Quillfeldt, P.; Schmoll, Tim; Peter, Hans-Ulrich; Epplen, Jörg Thomas; Lubjuhn, Thomas (2001). "Genetic Monogamy in Wilson's Storm Petrel". The Auk. 118 (1): 242–248. doi:10.1642/0004-8038(2001)118[0242:GMIWSS]2.0.CO;2.
^Bonadonna, Francesco; Bretagnolle, Vincent (2002). "Smelling home: a good solution for burrow-finding in nocturnal petrels?". Journal of Experimental Biology. 205 (16): 2519–2523. PMID 12124375.
^Jouventin, P.; Mouret, Vincent; Bonadonna, Francesco (2007). "Wilson's Storm Petrels Oceanites oceanicus Recognise the Olfactory Signature of Their Mate". Ethology. 113 (12): 1228–1232. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01444.x.
^Olivier, Frédérique; Wotherspoon, Simon J. (2006). "Distribution and abundance of Wilson's storm petrels Oceanites oceanicus at two locations in East Antarctica: testing habitat selection models". Polar Biology. 29 (10): 878–892. doi:10.1007/s00300-006-0127-4. ISSN 0722-4060.
Other sourcesedit
Harrison, Peter (1996). Seabirds of the World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN0-691-01551-1.
Bull, John; Farrand Jr., John (April 1984). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN0-394-41405-5.
Beck, J.R. & Brown, D.W. 1972. The Biology of Wilson's Storm Petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl) at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. British Antarctic Survey Scientific Reports No. 69.
Bourne, W.R.P. 1983. Letters (The ‘yellow webs’ of Wilson's Storm-petrel). British Birds 76(7): 316–317.
Bourne, W.R.P. 1987. Parallel variation in the markings of Wilson's and Leach's Storm-petrels. Sea Swallow 36: 64.
Bourne, W.R.P. 1988. Letters (John Gould and the storm-petrels). British Birds 81(8): 402–403.
British Ornithologists’ Union 2008. British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee: 36th Report (November 2007). Ibis 150: 218–220.
Copestake, P.G. & Croxall, J.P. 1985. Aspects of the breeding biology of Wilson's Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus at Bird Island, South Georgia. British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 66: 7-17.
Croxall, J.P. et al. 1988. Food and feeding ecology of Wilson's storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus at South Georgia. Journal of Zoology 216: 83-102.
Curtis, W.F. 1988. An example of melanism in Wilson's Storm-petrel. Sea Swallow 37: 63.
Flood, R.L. 2011. Notes (Wilson's Storm-petrel with white stripes on the underwing). British Birds 104(5): 272–273.
Gebczynski, A.K. 2003. The food demand in the nest of Wilson's storm petrel. Polish Polar Research 24(2): 127–131.
Orgeira, J.L. 1997. Nidificacion y habitat del Petrel de Wilson (Oceanites oceanicus) en Punta Cierva, Costa de Danco, peninsula Antarctica [Nesting habitat of Wilson's Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) at Cierva Point, Danco, Antarctic peninsula]. Ornitologia Neotropical 8: 49–56.
Orgeira, J.L. 1997. Short communications (An infrared device for finding Wilson's Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus nests). Marine Ornithology 25: 75–76.
Quillefeldt, P. 2002. Seasonal and annual variation in the diet of breeding and non-breeding Wilson's storm-petrel on King George Island, South Shetland Islands. Polar Biology 25: 216–221.
van den Berg, A.B.; Bosman, Cecilia A. W.; Rozendaal, Frank G. (1982). "Mass movement of Bridled Terns Sterna anaethetus and Wilson's Petrels Oceanites oceanicus off Colombo, Sri Lanka" (PDF). Ardea. 70: 81–82.
Wasilewski, A. 1986. Ecological aspects of the breeding cycle in the Petrel de Wilson, Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl), at King George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Polish Polar Research 7: 173–216.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oceanites oceanicus.
Wilson’s Storm Petrel - The Atlas of Southern African Birds
Wilson’s Petrel Oceanites oceanicus - British Trust for Ornithology
May 03, 2024
wilson, storm, petrel, oceanites, oceanicus, also, known, wilson, petrel, small, seabird, austral, storm, petrel, family, oceanitidae, most, abundant, bird, species, world, circumpolar, distribution, mainly, seas, southern, hemisphere, extending, northwards, d. Wilson s storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus also known as Wilson s petrel is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae It is one of the most abundant bird species in the world and has a circumpolar distribution mainly in the seas of the southern hemisphere but extending northwards during the summer of the northern hemisphere The world population was estimated in 2022 as stable at 8 to 20 million birds 2 In 2010 it had been estimated at 12 30 million 3 A 1998 book had estimated more than 50 million pairs 4 The name commemorates the Scottish American ornithologist Alexander Wilson The genus name Oceanites refers to the mythical Oceanids the three thousand daughters of Tethys The species name is from Latin oceanus ocean 5 Wilson s storm petrel Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Procellariiformes Family Oceanitidae Genus Oceanites Species O oceanicus Binomial name Oceanites oceanicus Kuhl 1820 Distribution range blue Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour and ecology 5 References 6 Other sources 7 External linksTaxonomy edit nbsp Wilson s Storm Petrel showing the distinctive markings across the upper wing nbsp Wilson s Storm Petrel pattering across water during feeding Originally described in the genus Procellaria it has been placed under the genus Oceanites Two or three subspecies are recognized and one population maorianus from New Zealand may be extinct The nominate population breeds from Cape Horn to the Kerguelen Islands while exasperatus breeds along the Antarctic coast in the South Shetland and other islands The population from Tierra del Fuego was described as chilensis wollastoni magellanicus but this is considered a nomen nudum although some authors have reinstated it noting that it can be distinguished by white mottling on the belly 6 7 The name Mother Carey s chicken was used in early literature and often applied to several petrel species while the generic name of stormy petrel referred to the idea that their appearance foretold stormy weather F M Littler and others called it the yellow webbed storm petrel 8 Description edit nbsp Wilson s Storm Petrel with distinctive yellow webbing between feet Wilson s storm petrel is a small bird 16 18 5 cm 6 3 7 3 in in length with a 38 42 cm 15 16 5 in wingspan It is slightly larger than the European storm petrel and is essentially dark brown in all plumages except for the white rump and flanks The feet extend just beyond the square ended tail in flight The European storm petrel has a very distinct whitish lining to the underwing and a nearly all dark upperwing Wilson s storm petrel has a diffuse pale band along the upper wing coverts and lacks the distinctive white underwing lining 9 The webbing between the toes is yellow with black spots in pre breeding age individuals 10 11 Distribution and habitat editThis species breeds on the Antarctic coastlines and nearby islands such as the South Shetland Islands during the summer of the southern hemisphere It spends the rest of the year at sea and moves into the northern oceans in the southern hemisphere s winter It is much more common in the north Atlantic than the Pacific Wilson s storm petrel is common off eastern North America in the northern summer and the seasonal abundance of this bird in suitable European waters has been revealed through pelagic boat trips most notably in the area of the Isles of Scilly and Great Britain It is strictly pelagic outside the breeding season and this together with its remote breeding sites makes Wilson s petrel a difficult bird to see from land Only in severe storms might this species be pushed into headlands Behaviour and ecology editWilson s storm petrel has a more direct gliding flight than other small petrels and like most others it flies low over the seas surface and has the habit of pattering on the water surface as it picks planktonic food items from the ocean surface Their unique fluttering and hovering flight is achieved often with their wings held high Even in calm weather they can make use of the slight breeze produced by the waves and in effect soar while using their feet to stabilize themselves 12 Like the European storm petrel it is highly gregarious and will also follow ships and fishing boats A soft peeping noise is often heard while the birds are feeding They feed predominantly on planktonic invertebrates close to the surface rarely plunging below the surface to capture prey They may however sometimes take 3 8 cm long fish in the family Myctophidae 13 At 40 g on average it is the smallest warm blooded animal that breeds in the Antarctic region 14 It nests in colonies close to the sea in rock crevices or small burrows in soft earth and lays a single white egg Like most petrels its walking ability is limited to a short shuffle to the burrow In the Antarctic nests may sometimes get snowed over leading to destruction of the nest or chicks This storm petrel is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by larger gulls and skuas and will even avoid coming to land on clear moonlit nights Both parents tend the nest and feed the single chick 15 The chicks call and beg for food more vigorously when hungry 16 Chicks remain at nest for about 60 days and are fed on krill fish and amphipods 17 Adults have the ability to identify their nest burrows 18 in the dark and their mates by olfactory cues 19 Population estimates in Antarctica evaluate the species to have about between 105 and 106 pairs 20 Widespread throughout its large range Wilson s storm petrel is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1 References edit a b BirdLife International 2018 Oceanites oceanicus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22698436A132646007 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22698436A132646007 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Wilson s Storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus BirdLife species factsheet datazone birdlife org 2022 Retrieved 2022 05 28 Oceanites oceanicus Wilson s Storm Petrel Australian Government Retrieved 2022 05 27 Newton Ian 1998 Population limitation in birds Academic Press p 3 ISBN 9780080879239 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm p 279 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Dowdall J Enright S Fahy K Gilligan J Lillie G O Keeffe M 2009 Unidentified storm petrels off Puerto Montt Chile in February 2009 Dutch Birding 31 4 218 222 Mayr E G W Cottrell eds 1979 Check list of birds of the World volume 1 2nd ed Museum of Comparative Zoology Cambridge Massachusetts pp 103 104 Littler F M 1910 A Handbook of the Birds of Tasmania and its dependencies Self published pp 157 159 Flood Robert L Thomas Bryan 2007 Identification of black and white storm petrels of the North Atlantic PDF British Birds 100 7 407 442 Quillfeldt Petra Schmoll Tim Peter Hans Ulrich 2000 The use of foot web coloration for the estimation of prebreeder numbers in Wilson s storm petrels Oceanites oceanicus Polar Biology 23 11 802 804 doi 10 1007 s003000000167 S2CID 2791681 Harrison Peter 1983 Identification of white rumped North Atlantic petrels British Birds 76 4 161 174 Withers P C 1979 Aerodynamics and hydrodynamics of the hovering flight of Wilson s Storm Petrel PDF J Exp Biol 80 83 91 Croxall J P North A W 1988 Fish prey of Wilson s storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus at South Georgia Antarctica PDF British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 78 37 42 Obst B S Nagy Kenneth A Ricklefs Robert E 1987 Energy Utilization by Wilson s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus Physiological Zoology 60 2 200 210 doi 10 1086 physzool 60 2 30158644 S2CID 88376493 Gladbach A Braun C Nordt A Peter H U Quillfeldt P 2009 Chick provisioning and nest attendance of male and female Wilson s storm petrels Oceanites oceanicus PDF Polar Biology 32 9 1315 1321 doi 10 1007 s00300 009 0628 z S2CID 37852156 Quillfeldt P 2002 Begging in the absence of sibling competition in Wilson s storm petrels Oceanites oceanicus Animal Behaviour 64 4 579 587 doi 10 1006 anbe 2002 3090 S2CID 53145763 Quillfeldt P Schmoll Tim Peter Hans Ulrich Epplen Jorg Thomas Lubjuhn Thomas 2001 Genetic Monogamy in Wilson s Storm Petrel The Auk 118 1 242 248 doi 10 1642 0004 8038 2001 118 0242 GMIWSS 2 0 CO 2 Bonadonna Francesco Bretagnolle Vincent 2002 Smelling home a good solution for burrow finding in nocturnal petrels Journal of Experimental Biology 205 16 2519 2523 PMID 12124375 Jouventin P Mouret Vincent Bonadonna Francesco 2007 Wilson s Storm Petrels Oceanites oceanicus Recognise the Olfactory Signature of Their Mate Ethology 113 12 1228 1232 doi 10 1111 j 1439 0310 2007 01444 x Olivier Frederique Wotherspoon Simon J 2006 Distribution and abundance of Wilson s storm petrels Oceanites oceanicus at two locations in East Antarctica testing habitat selection models Polar Biology 29 10 878 892 doi 10 1007 s00300 006 0127 4 ISSN 0722 4060 Other sources editHarrison Peter 1996 Seabirds of the World Princeton Princeton University Press ISBN 0 691 01551 1 Bull John Farrand Jr John April 1984 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds Eastern Region New York Alfred A Knopf ISBN 0 394 41405 5 Beck J R amp Brown D W 1972 The Biology of Wilson s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus Kuhl at Signy Island South Orkney Islands British Antarctic Survey Scientific Reports No 69 Bourne W R P 1983 Letters The yellow webs of Wilson s Storm petrel British Birds 76 7 316 317 Bourne W R P 1987 Parallel variation in the markings of Wilson s and Leach s Storm petrels Sea Swallow 36 64 Bourne W R P 1988 Letters John Gould and the storm petrels British Birds 81 8 402 403 British Ornithologists Union 2008 British Ornithologists Union Records Committee 36th Report November 2007 Ibis 150 218 220 Copestake P G amp Croxall J P 1985 Aspects of the breeding biology of Wilson s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus at Bird Island South Georgia British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 66 7 17 Croxall J P et al 1988 Food and feeding ecology of Wilson s storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus at South Georgia Journal of Zoology 216 83 102 Curtis W F 1988 An example of melanism in Wilson s Storm petrel Sea Swallow 37 63 Flood R L 2011 Notes Wilson s Storm petrel with white stripes on the underwing British Birds 104 5 272 273 Gebczynski A K 2003 The food demand in the nest of Wilson s storm petrel Polish Polar Research 24 2 127 131 Orgeira J L 1997 Nidificacion y habitat del Petrel de Wilson Oceanites oceanicus en Punta Cierva Costa de Danco peninsula Antarctica Nesting habitat of Wilson s Petrel Oceanites oceanicus at Cierva Point Danco Antarctic peninsula Ornitologia Neotropical 8 49 56 Orgeira J L 1997 Short communications An infrared device for finding Wilson s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus nests Marine Ornithology 25 75 76 Quillefeldt P 2002 Seasonal and annual variation in the diet of breeding and non breeding Wilson s storm petrel on King George Island South Shetland Islands Polar Biology 25 216 221 van den Berg A B Bosman Cecilia A W Rozendaal Frank G 1982 Mass movement of Bridled Terns Sterna anaethetus and Wilson s Petrels Oceanites oceanicus off Colombo Sri Lanka PDF Ardea 70 81 82 Wasilewski A 1986 Ecological aspects of the breeding cycle in the Petrel de Wilson Oceanites oceanicus Kuhl at King George Island South Shetland Islands Antarctica Polish Polar Research 7 173 216 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oceanites oceanicus Wilson s Storm Petrel The Atlas of Southern African Birds Wilson s Petrel Oceanites oceanicus British Trust for Ornithology Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilson 27s storm petrel amp oldid 1181716485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
