storm petrel

American  

Or storm-petrel

noun

1. any of several small, tube-nosed seabirds of the family Hydrobatidae, usually having black or sooty-brown plumage with a white rump.

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storm petrel British  

noun

1. Also called: Mother Carey's chicken.   stormy petrel.  any small petrel, such as the northern Hydrobates pelagicus, of the family Hydrobatidae, typically having a dark plumage with paler underparts

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Etymology

Origin of storm petrel

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

storm petrel

The team also resighted a Leach's storm petrel banded there 31 years ago.

From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2022

When the mice population drops, as it does seasonally, the owls then eat the eggs of the ashy storm petrel, a bird some consider a future candidate for the endangered species list.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2021

The organization contends the nonnative, invasive mice, likely introduced by sailing vessels in the 19th century, are messing with the natural environment and threatening the ashy storm petrel, among other seabirds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2021

This year, the union split two — the Western scrub-jay and Leach’s storm petrel — into two and three different species, respectively.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 1, 2016

But no, it’s a storm petrel with its wide black wings, soft gray underbelly.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon