Subfamily Oceanitinae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Hydrobatidae Genus Fregetta Higher classification Fregetta | |
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Similar Storm petrel, Bird, White‑bellied storm petrel, Wilson's storm petrel, Cape petrel | ||
The black-bellied storm petrel (Fregetta tropica) is a species of seabird in the family Hydrobatidae.
It is found in Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Bouvet Island, Brazil, Chile, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Madagascar, Mozambique, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, Saint Helena, São Tomé and Príncipe, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Uruguay, and Vanuatu.
They are usually black with a white band over the rump. A white under the wings and on the flanks. There is a broad black stripe runs down the center of the belly, but may be broken or absent altogether sometimes. They have long legs, so that the feet can be seen beyond the tail in flight. The legs and feet are black.
They are silent mostly at sea. Noises can be seen on the breeding colonies, birds on the ground give a drawn-out shrill whistle.
