Galapagos Islands birdlife - Storm Petrels

Storm petrels, the name "Petrel" is thought to be derived from St. Peter, because their habit of not quite landing in the water, but dipping their feet in and fluttering over the surface while they feed on plankton, makes them seem as though they are walking on water. World-wide, there are eight genera of storm petrels, containing about 20 species. These eight genera are divided into two main groups, one inhabiting the northern hemisphere, and the other the southern, with some overlap in the tropics. In the Galapagos, there are three resident species:

White-Vented (Elliot's) Storm Petrel (Oceanites gracilis)
Band-rumped (Madeiran Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma castro)
Wedge-Rumped (Galapagos) Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma tethys)

Of the three, Oceanites is a southern form while Oceanodroma is a northern form. Both the white-vented storm petrel and the wedge-rumped storm petrel are endemic Galapagos subspecies. Other species of storm petrels have occasionally been reported as vagrants.

Storm petrels are not often easy to identify because of their very small size (6-8 inches), rapid movements, and generally great distances from the observer. The white-vented storm petrel, are the most commonly sighted inshore species. It is part of the southern grouping of genera and, typical to that group, it has very long legs which project behind the tail. In Galapagos, it is the only storm petrel with this feature. All three Galapagos storm petrels have a white patch on their rump.

Despite the fact that the white-vented storm petrel is a resident, endemic subspecies, its breeding sites have never been found. Autopsies of dead birds suggest that they lay their eggs from April to September. The other two species, both Oceanodroma, have well established breeding areas. One well known site is on the cliffs above Prince Philip's Steps on Genovesa. There, the birds nest in the numerous lava tubes and cracks that riddle the ground. The birds fly rapidly back and forth, seeming more like a swarm of insects than a flock of birds. The wedge-rumped storm petrel is the only one to visit its breeding site during the day, feeding by night. Thus, any day-time siting of a feeding storm petrel will most likely not be the wedge-rumped. The wedge-rumped petrel breeds from April to October, laying one egg that is incubated by both parents. The band-rumped petrel likewise lays a single egg, but breeds in two groups, one from February to October, and the other from October to May. Like other storm petrels, and unlike its neighbor, the wedge-rumped, it feeds during the day, usually farther out to sea than the white-vented storm petrel, and returns to its nest at night.