Wilson's Storm Petrel

Oceanites oceanicus

Introduction

One of the most abundant birds in the world, Wilson's Storm Petrel breeds on islands throughout the southern oceans. The increasing popularity of pelagic birding trips has revealed that this species probably winters in large numbers in British & Irish waters.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

39.8g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

846 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Cornwall, 1838

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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Wilson's Storm Petrels are mostly recorded at sea but there are increasing sightings from headlands in southwest England.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Breeding Distribution for Wilson's Storm Petrel

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Wilson's Storm Petrel is an oceanic speciality seen from selected headlands and on pelagic boat trips in late summer and early autumn.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Wilson's Storm Petrel movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Wilson's Storm Petrel, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Wilson's Storm Petrel

Classification and Codes

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Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Oceanitidae
Scientific name: Oceanites oceanicus
Authority: Kuhl, 1820

BTO 2-letter code: IO
BTO 5-letter code: WILPE
Euring code number: 500

Alternate species names

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Catalan: ocell de tempesta de Wilson
Czech: burnácek Wilsonuv
Danish: Wilsons Stormsvale
Dutch: Wilsons Stormvogeltje
Estonian: lõuna-tormipääsu
Finnish: etelänkeiju
French: Océanite de Wilson

German: Buntfuß-Sturmschwalbe
Hungarian: Wilson-viharfecske
Icelandic: Hafsvala
Irish: Guairdeall Wilson
Italian: Uccello delle tempeste di Wilson
Latvian: Vilsona vetrasburatajs
Lithuanian: margakojis Vilsono audrašauklis
Norwegian: Wilsonstormsvale

Polish: oceannik zóltopletwy
Portuguese: alma-de-mestre / casquilho
Slovak: búrkozvest pestronohý
Slovenian: antarkticni strakoš
Spanish: Paíño de Wilson
Swedish: havslöpare
Welsh: Pedryn Drycin Wilson

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.