Storm Petrel Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
The European Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) is a small bird that has a square tail and is all black except for a broad, white rump and a white band on the underwings. It flies with a fluttering, bat-like motion.
Also referred to as the British storm petrel or simply storm petrel, it is a seabird species belonging to the northern storm petrel family, Hydrobatidae. The bird’s display flight consists of rapid, repetitive ter-CHICK sounds followed by a trill, with notable variations in pitch and length.
Curious about how long these birds live and how fast they can fly? Keep reading to learn more about their life span, flight speed, unique nesting habits and egg-laying process.
Table of Contents
How Long Does A Storm Petrel Live?
The average life expectancy of a Storm Petrel is around 11 years. Still, some individuals have been recorded living up to 38 years. This impressive longevity is quite remarkable for such small seabirds.
How Fast Can A Storm Petrel Fly?
Typically, a Storm Petrel flies at about 4.05 metres per second (about 9 miles per hour or 14.6 kilometres per hour), though its speed can range from 2.62 to 4.93 metres per second (roughly 6 to 11 miles per hour or 9.4 to 17.8 kilometres per hour).
The fastest speed recorded for this bird is 11.18 metres per second (about 25 miles per hour or 40.3 kilometres per hour).
Are Storm Petrels Aggressive?
Storm Petrels are usually quite calm birds, but they do show some territorial behaviour when it’s breeding season.
When they’re not nesting, they’re rather peaceful and are often spotted foraging in groups or trailing behind ships to find their meals. However, once it’s time to nest, they can become quite protective and show aggressive behaviours to guard their nesting spots from other birds.
What Is A Storm Petrel’s Habitat?
Storm Petrels live most of their lives out in the open ocean, only coming ashore for breeding. They are adapted to life at sea, consuming fish, plankton, squid, and other marine life close to the surface. Their feeding strategy involves fluttering and pattering on the water, often trailing ships and fishing boats to locate their next meal.
When it’s time for breeding, storm petrels choose isolated rocky headlands and deserted islands to lay their eggs. They find nesting places in natural cracks, unused burrows from other animals like rabbits or puffins, caves, or even underneath old buildings. These sites are usually free from land predators like cats, rats, and mink, which are serious threats to their eggs and young.
How Long Does It Take For A Storm Petrel To Build A Nest?
In general, Storm Petrels don’t invest much time building complex nests, as they tend to utilise pre-existing crevices or burrows for egg-laying. Sometimes, they may take a few days to a week to prepare the nest site before laying their eggs. Storm petrels usually make their nests on isolated rocky islands or headlands, finding natural crevices, burrows, or unused hollows.
Eggs
Let’s look at when Storm Petrels lay their eggs, the number of eggs they produce, and the appearance of these eggs as they develop.
When Do Storm Petrels Lay Eggs?
The egg-laying season for Storm Petrels typically runs from late April to mid-July. Sometimes, there are two distinct breeding phases: the first from mid-April to mid-July and the second from mid-July to mid-October.
This implies that there could be two separate groups of Storm Petrels nesting at different times: seasoned birds nesting first and newer, younger breeders nesting afterwards.
How Many Eggs Does A Storm Petrel Lay?
The Storm Petrel chooses crevices and burrows for nesting and might use these spots alongside other seabirds. Usually, it lays just one egg per season, and these eggs are commonly found on bare ground or in other sparse settings.
What Do Storm Petrel Eggs Look Like?
The eggs of the Storm Petrel are generally pure white and measure about 28 mm by 21 mm (1.1 inches by 0.8 inches). They can have a few reddish spots when first laid, but these typically fade away as the incubation period goes on.
How Long Do Storm Petrel Eggs Take To Hatch?
It takes between 38 and 50 days for Storm Petrel eggs to hatch. Both parents are involved in incubating the eggs, with one adult usually spending up to three days on the egg at a time, while the other searches for food at sea.
Chicks
Let’s take a look at how Storm Petrel chicks grow, starting with how many are born and their early development.
How Many Chicks Does A Storm Petrel Have?
Each breeding season, Storm Petrels typically lay just one egg, which means they raise only one chick. This single-egg pattern is usual for Storm Petrels and other seabirds in the Hydrobatidae family.
When Do Storm Petrel Chicks Open Their Eyes?
Within the first week or two of hatching, Storm Petrel chicks open their eyes. Altricial chicks, born in an undeveloped state, usually open their eyes from a few days to two weeks after hatching. This is common in various seabird species, where early eye-opening is essential for the chicks to start engaging with their environment and parents for feeding and growth.
When Do Storm Petrel Chicks Fledge?
After hatching, Storm Petrel chicks typically take between 56 and 86 days to fledge. Throughout this period, the chick receives nourishment from both parents, who regurgitate oily stomach contents to ensure it gains the strength and development needed to leave the nest and enter the open sea.
SEE ALSO: Storm Petrel Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
The lifespan of a Storm Petrel is typically around 11 years, but some individuals can live up to 38 years.
Storm Petrel eggs are generally pure white, sometimes with a few reddish spots that fade as the incubation period progresses.
The habitat of a Storm Petrel is primarily the open ocean, where they spend most of their lives, coming ashore only for breeding on isolated rocky headlands and deserted islands.
