Southern Storm-Petrels
Southern Storm-Petrels
Oceanitidae
The Ocean’s Tiny Ghosts: Southern Storm-Petrels (Oceanitidae) are the smallest seabirds in the world, spending nearly their entire lives at sea. These delicate birds, often weighing less than 40 grams, flutter just above the waves, picking plankton and small fish from the ocean’s surface. Often called “sea swallows” due to their graceful flight, storm-petrels use a unique technique known as “pattering,” where they hover and lightly touch the water with their feet while feeding. Species like Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) are among the most numerous birds on Earth, breeding on remote islands across the Southern Ocean. Despite their tiny size, they endure some of the harshest weather conditions on the planet. They nest in burrows or rock crevices, returning to land only to breed. Their eerie, high-pitched calls add an air of mystery to their remote breeding sites. Introduced predators like rats and cats threaten storm-petrel colonies, but conservation efforts focus on protecting nesting islands to ensure these ocean wanderers continue their endless dance over the waves.