Leach’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous)

Description: Leach’s storm petrel is solitary bird that spends most of its life on open ocean away from both shore and fishing vessels, making it difficult to research. It is a small dark brown to gray bird, with a white patch on its tail and black tipped wings. They have a dramatic notch in their tail, making it appear forked. It can be identified by its unique flight pattern. Storm-petrels fly close to the surface of the water and have a rapid wing beat. Unlike many other seabirds they dart back and forth in erratic zigzag patterns.

Habitat: Found in both the Pacific and Atlantic, Leach’s storm-petrel is typically found in open ocean. The migrational patterns are still mostly unknown to the scientific community, but it is believed that during breeding season in the summer they nest on near shore islands in the North, and then they move South in the winter.

Nesting: Leach’s storm-petrels nest on islands on the East and West coasts of the Northern US and Canada. Mating pairs form colonies and males dig burrows in grassy or vegetated areas. Females lay one egg and both parents incubate for 38-46 days. The chick is fed by both parents via regurgitation for 9 to 10 weeks until they leave the nest.

Diet: Like other species of storm-petrel, this small sea bird hunts by flying low over the ocean and skimming its break into the water to pick out tiny crustaceans and occasionally fish.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Although quiet most of the time, during breeding season, Leach’s storm-petrels makes a purring noise to communicate with other members of the colony.

• Leach’s storm-petrels only visit their burrows at night to bring food to their chicks.

Reference: Audubon