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Thursday 15 August 2013

107. Swinhoe's Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma monorhis)

Although Swinhoe's Storm Petrel is very similar in size and morphology to Leach's Storm Petrel, it is told apart by its uniformly dark brown/black plumage with no white rump. This means it could also be confused with Bulwer's Petrel, but Bulwer's is larger with a longer tail generally held in a narrow point, compared with Swinhoe's shorter, forked tail. Swinhoe's Storm Petrel is usually found around East Asia, but it does occasionally turn up elsewhere, in fact I believe that there is one loitering around Fair Isle at this very moment.

Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, ©Francis Yap, used with permission.
Swinhoe's Storm Petrel sketch.

Many thanks to Francis Yap for allowing me to use his great Swinhoe's Storm Petrel photo! Hmm, I got the lower wing a bit too narrow and the body a little chunky in my drawing.

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