Guide to North American Birds
Family Northern Storm-Petrels
Nesting on islands off the west coast of South America, this bird wanders widely in offshore waters of the eastern Pacific. A few individuals have been known to stray as far north as California. The race of this species breeding in the Galapagos is the only storm-petrel that regularly visits its nesting colonies by day.

Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
Learn more about these drawings.

Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds

Download Our Bird Guide App

See a fully interactive migration map for over 450 bird species on the Bird Migration Explorer.

Learn more

Songs and Calls

Makes sharp, squeaky notes at sea that are rarely heard. At breeding colonies makes twittering and purring notes.
Audio © Lang Elliott, Bob McGuire, Kevin Colver, Martyn Stewart and others.
Learn more about this sound collection.