The white-faced storm petrel, also known as white-faced petrel or frigate petrel, is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Pelagodroma. It is widely distributed across the northern and southern hemisphere, especially around the coastal and open ocean waters of southern Australia, New Zealand, Tristan da Cunha, Cabo Verde, the Canary islands and the Selvagens islands.
Region
Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans (temperate and subtropical zones)
Typical Environment
Breeds on remote oceanic islands and islets with soft soils or dunes suitable for burrowing, including sites around southern Australia, New Zealand, Tristan da Cunha, Cabo Verde, the Canary Islands, and the Selvagens. Outside the breeding season it ranges widely over the open ocean, often far from land. It favors pelagic waters with upwellings where plankton and small nekton concentrate. Near colonies it may forage over continental shelves but generally avoids nearshore waters.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 400 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small tubenose is the sole member of the genus Pelagodroma and is famed for its distinctive ‘pattering’ feeding technique, skipping on long legs while picking food from the surface. It breeds in burrows on remote islands and is largely nocturnal at colonies to avoid predators. After breeding, individuals disperse widely across open oceans.
![Size and look of the species from the side[27]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Pelagodroma_marina_%28AM_LB8147-5%29.jpg/1280px-Pelagodroma_marina_%28AM_LB8147-5%29.jpg)
Size and look of the species from the side[27]
![Young White-Faced Storm Petrel of three growth stages[27]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Pelagodroma_marina_%28AM_LB8146-4%29.jpg/960px-Pelagodroma_marina_%28AM_LB8146-4%29.jpg)
Young White-Faced Storm Petrel of three growth stages[27]
Egg - MHNT
The distinctive "pattering" behaviour of white-faced storm petrel on the water surface
European rabbits
![Atlantic yellow-legged gulls[88]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Atlantic_Yellow-legged_Gulls_%284990020070%29.jpg/1280px-Atlantic_Yellow-legged_Gulls_%284990020070%29.jpg)
Atlantic yellow-legged gulls[88]
Temperament
pelagic and wary; secretive near colonies
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with bounding glides; often patters across the water surface
Social Behavior
Strongly colonial, nesting in burrows or crevices in sandy or soft soils. Mostly nocturnal at breeding sites, arriving and departing under cover of darkness. Typically monogamous, laying a single egg that both parents incubate and later provision at sea.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
At sea largely silent, but at colonies it gives soft chattering trills, purrs, and cooing calls at night. Vocalizations are used for mate recognition and territory within the burrowed nesting area.
