Skip to main content

Kōrero: Seabirds – overview

A tiny storm petrel

Image
A tiny storm petrel

The smallest petrels are the storm petrels, with most species measuring about 20 centimetres and weighing 35–50 grams. Several million white-faced storm petrels breed on islands around New Zealand, nesting in burrows up to 1 metre long. They feed on small animal plankton on the surface of the sea, pattering the water with their large webbed feet and fluttering their wings, so they can feed without having to alight. Despite their small size, storm petrels can fly long distances.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10054736

by Don Merton

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Seabirds – overview – Who are the seabirds?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/5470/a-tiny-storm-petrel (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Kerry-Jayne Wilson, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009.