The Wilson's storm petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) belongs to the family Hydrobatidae. These petrels are widely distributed, occurring in all the oceans including Indian ocean. They are the largest population of seabirds. Three subspecies are recognized namely, O. o. chilensis, O. o. oceanicus and O. o. exasperatus.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these petrel birds and has listed them of "least concern".
The Wilson's storm petrel is a small bird, measuring 15-20 cm in length and weighing 30-50 grams. The female bird is slightly larger than the male. They have long legs with a distinctive yellow webbing to the feet. They have blackish brown plumage with square ended tail. On the rump there is white 'U' shapes plumage. The wings are short and rounded.
The Wilson's storm petrel birds, rarely seen from land. They are known to follow ships. They feed on the plankton on the surface of the water. These petrels breed on the Antarctic coastlines and nearby islands. They lay a single egg and both the parents take part in feeding the chick. The chick are fed on krill, fish and amphipods.
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| Indian bird - Wilson's storm petrel - Oceanites oceanicus |
| Biological classification of Oceanites oceanicus | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Hydrobatidae |
| Subfamily: | Oceanitinae |
| Genus: | Oceanites |
| Species: | O. oceanicus |
| Binomial name: | Oceanites oceanicus |
| Distribution: | the most abundant bird species in the world; |
| Feeding habits: | small fish and planktonic food items from the ocean surface; |
| IUCN status listing: | Least Concern |
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oceanites_oceanicusPCCA20070623-3634B.jpg
Author: Patrick Coin | License: CC BY-SA 2.5
Current topic: Wilson's storm petrel - Oceanites oceanicus.