Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
Learn more about these drawings.
Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds
Adult. Photo: Steve Young/Alamy
Leach's Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates leucorhous
| Conservation status | Total population probably in the millions, but thought to have declined in recent decades. On nesting islands, vulnerable to disturbance by predators, especially introduced mammals such as rats. |
|---|---|
| Family | Northern Storm-Petrels |
| Habitat | Open ocean; nesting colonies in turf on offshore islands. Widespread at sea, concentrating around upwellings and areas where cold and warm currents meet. Forages over continental shelf but also far out to sea; off Pacific Coast, generally seen farther offshore than other storm-petrels. Nests on islands with soil for nesting burrows. |
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Feeding Behavior
Forages mostly by hovering or skimming low over water and taking items from surface. Seldom sits on water to feed. May feed by day or night. Sometimes associated with feeding whales or seals.
Eggs
One. White, some with band of purplish dots toward large end. Incubation is by both sexes, 38-46 days. Young: Both parents feed young, by regurgitation, visiting at night. Feeding rate declines as young matures. Period from hatching to young bird's departure from nest is about 9-10 weeks.
Young
Both parents feed young, by regurgitation, visiting at night. Feeding rate declines as young matures. Period from hatching to young bird's departure from nest is about 9-10 weeks.
Diet
Mostly crustaceans. Feeds mainly on small crustaceans, including euphausiid shrimp, amphipods, copepods, larval stages of spiny lobster; also small squid, possibly some small fish. Scavenges at slicks of oil and fat on sea surface.
Nesting
First breeds at age of 4 or 5 years. Nests in colonies on islands, coming ashore only at night. Nest: Site is in burrow under grass, rocks, or tree roots; burrow is usually 1-3' long, sometimes more than 5'. Male digs burrow, mostly using feet. Several burrow entrances may be very close together, or several nests may be in side branches of one tunnel. May also use natural holes and crevices at times. Nest chamber usually lined with leaves, grass.
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Songs and Calls
A variety of trills, screams, and cooing notes.Leach's Storm-Petrel In the News More News
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