General

Wilson's Storm-Petrel: Small storm-petrel with mostly brown-black body, pale brown wing bands and large, conspicuous white rump. Wings are short and rounded. Feet extend past tail in flight. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Wilson's Storm-Petrel: Breeds on rocky islands in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seas; in non-breeding season ranges northward over Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans; in eastern Pacific very rarely north to Monterey Bay. Pelagic, comes ashore only to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Wilson's Storm-Petrel: One white egg is laid in a rock crevice or burrow. Incubation ranges from 39 to 48 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Wilson's Storm-Petrel: Feeds on mollusks, small fish, crustaceans, marine plants, and excrement of cetaceous animals. Snatches food from water surface while in flight; frequently follows ships and whales.

Vocalization

Wilson's Storm-Petrel: Makes a soft peeping, heard at close range when bird is feeding.

Similar Species

Wilson's Storm-Petrel: Black, Ashy, and Least storm-petrels lack white rump. Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel is smaller with larger rump patch. Band-rumped Storm-Petrel is larger and has a thinner rump patch. Leach's Storm-Petrel has forked tail and divided or absent rump patch.