Leach’s Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) Bird Information
Usually, Leach’s Storm-petrel is a black-brown bird with long, pointed, angled wings; pale edges to coverts form pale inner wing. Tail distinctly forked; white rump has dark central stripe. Feet do not extend beyond tail. Flight is shearwater-like; short glides between bouts of leisurely wing-flapping. Seldom follows ships.
Status: confined to handful of remote islands off coast of Scotland and possibly Ireland. Otherwise scarce passage migrant and storm-driven waif.
Similar Species: smaller European Storm-petrel is blacker, has less angled wings and lacks forked tail and pale inner wing.
Leach’s Storm-Petrel Bird Facts
| Type | Swallow-like |
| Size | 19 – 22 cm (7.5 – 9 in) |
| Habitat | sea and small offshore islets |
| Behavior | Swims, takes off and land on water or ground |
| Flocking | 1 – 20 |
| Flight | hovers, glides; undulating |
| Voice | croons on nest; variety of screeches and repeated notes at colonies. |
Bird Identification
| Adult | |
| Crown | dark brown |
| Upperparts | dark brown |
| Rump | white, dark central stripe |
| Tail | dark brown; medium length and forked |
| Throat | dark brown |
| Breast | dark brown |
| Belly | dark brown |
| Bill | black; short and thin |
| Legs | black; medium length |
Breeding
| Nest | burrow, crevice |
| Eggs | 1; white |
| Incubation | 41 – 42 days |
| Fledging | 63 – 70 days |
| Young | helpless; downy |
| Broods | 1; May-June |
| Food | fish, plankton |
| Population | several thousand pairs |
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