The black-bellied storm petrel (Fregetta tropica) is a seabird in the Hydrobatidae family. The black-bellied storm petrel ranges across tropical and subtropical major oceans including Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. It is found in Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Oman, South Africa, South India and several oceanic islands.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had categorized and evaluated these petrel species and had listed them as of 'Least Concern'.
These petrels are small, measuring 20 cm in length and weighing 40 to 60 grams. They have a wingspan of 45 cm. They are near blackish in color and have white upper tail-coverts. They are rarely seen from the shore, except during breeding season starting by September. They feed on small fish, squid and shrimps.
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| Indian birds - Black-bellied storm petrel - Fregetta tropica |
| Biological classification of Fregetta tropica | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Hydrobatidae |
| Subfamily: | Oceanitinae |
| Genus: | Fregetta |
| Species: | F. tropica |
| Binomial name: | Fregetta tropica |
| Distribution: | Antarctica, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, |
| Feeding habits: | fish, squids and shrimp; |
| IUCN status listing: |  Least Concern |
Image source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fregetta_tropica_By_John_Gould.jpg
Author: John Gould | License: Public domain
Current topic in Birds of India: Black-bellied storm petrel - Fregetta tropica.
