Characteristics: A very small, black seabird with an obvious white rump. Its dark bill has tube nostrils and a slightly hooked tip. It flies low over the water with dark feet trailing, which picks small items of food from the surface. Only seen inland during breeding season and a strange churring call ending in a ‘hiccup’ is heard near nesting burrows.

Habitat: The Storm Petrel nests on rocky islands and steep cliffs in burrows and crevices. In Winter they are found far out at sea south of the main breeding range.

Habits: Small size, fluttering, flight and habit of picking food from the surface without alighting make them easy to identify.