Difference between revisions of "Wilson's storm petrel"

'''Wilson's storm petrel''' (''Oceanites oceanicus''), also known as '''Wilson's petrel''', is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is one of the most abundant bird species in the world and has a circumpolar distribution mainly in the seas of the southern hemisphere but extending northwards during the summer of the northern hemisphere. The world population has been estimated to be more than 50 million pairs. The name commemorates the Scottish-American ornithologist Alexander Wilson. The genus name ''Oceanites'' refers to the mythical Oceanids, the three thousand daughters of Tethys. The species name is from Latin ''oceanus'', "ocean."

'''Wilson's storm petrel''' (''Oceanites oceanicus''), also known as '''Wilson's petrel''', is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is one of the most abundant bird species in the world and has a circumpolar distribution mainly in the seas of the southern hemisphere but extending northwards during the summer of the northern hemisphere. The world population has been estimated to be more than 50 million pairs. The name commemorates the Scottish-American ornithologist Alexander Wilson. The genus name ''Oceanites'' refers to the mythical Oceanids, the three thousand daughters of Tethys. The species name is from Latin ''oceanus'', "ocean."

==Taxonomy==

==Taxonomy==

Originally described in the genus ''Procellaria'' it has been placed under the genus ''Oceanites''. Two or three subspecies are recognized and one population ''maorianus'' from New Zealand may be extinct. The nominate population breeds from Cape Horn to the Kerguelen Islands while exasperatus breeds along the Antarctic coast in the South Shetland and other islands. The population from Tierra del Fuego was described as ''chilensi''s (=''wollastoni, magellanicus'') but this is considered a ''nomen nudum'' although some authors have reinstated it, noting that it can be distinguished by white mottling on the belly.

Originally described in the genus ''Procellaria'' it has been placed under the genus ''Oceanites''. Two or three subspecies are recognized and one population ''maorianus'' from New Zealand may be extinct. The nominate population breeds from Cape Horn to the Kerguelen Islands while exasperatus breeds along the Antarctic coast in the South Shetland and other islands. The population from Tierra del Fuego was described as ''chilensi''s (=''wollastoni, magellanicus'') but this is considered a ''nomen nudum'' although some authors have reinstated it, noting that it can be distinguished by white mottling on the belly.

==Distribution and habitat==

==Distribution and habitat==

This species breeds on the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] coastlines and nearby islands such as the South Shetland Islands during the summer of the [[Southern Ocean]]. It spends the rest of the year at sea, and moves into the northern oceans in the southern hemisphere's winter. It is much more common in the north Atlantic than the Pacific. Wilson's storm petrel is common off eastern North America in the northern summer and the seasonal abundance of this bird in suitable European waters has been revealed through pelagic boat trips, most notably in the area of Great Britain.

This species breeds on the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] coastlines and nearby islands such as the South Shetland Islands during the summer of the [[Southern Ocean]]. It spends the rest of the year at sea, and moves into the northern oceans in the southern hemisphere's winter. It is much more common in the north Atlantic than the Pacific. Wilson's storm petrel is common off eastern North America in the northern summer and the seasonal abundance of this bird in suitable European waters has been revealed through pelagic boat trips, most notably in the area of Great Britain.