Grey-backed Storm-petrel vs White-faced Storm-petrel

Garrodia nereis compared with Pelagodroma marina

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Grey-backed Storm-petrel White-faced Storm-petrel
Scientific Name Garrodia nereis Pelagodroma marina
Order Procellariiformes Procellariiformes
Family Oceanitidae Oceanitidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 25.0 cm (9.8 in) 31.6 cm (12.4 in)
Weight 32.5 g (1.15 oz) 54.0 g (1.90 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 1
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Grey-backed Storm-petrel only

White-faced Storm-petrel only

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Grey-backed Storm-petrel

Least Concern

White-faced Storm-petrel

About These Birds

Grey-backed Storm-petrel

Grey-backed Storm-petrel, 16–19 cm, breeds on sub-Antarctic islands across the Southern Ocean from Tristan da Cunha to the Antipodes. Pale grey back and rump distinguishes it from most other storm-petrels. Planktivore; flutters low over the sea surface picking up zooplankton.

White-faced Storm-petrel

White-faced Storm-petrel, 18–21 cm, is distinctive — dark above but with a striking white supercilium and pale underparts; bounces across the sea surface on long legs like a clockwork toy. Breeds on islands in the North and South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Australia. Circumglobal oceanic migrant.

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