Swinhoe's Storm Petrel

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Open sea (extreme vagrant).
Diet: Plankton.
Best time to spot: All dark; caught by night ringers.

When to look

A rare visitor, not a resident. There is no dependable season, though most rarities are found during spring and autumn migration. More on the season in British seabirds.

How rare is it?

The Swinhoe's Storm Petrel sits in our Legendary tier for the UK: a major rarity, where any record is big news. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Madeiran Storm PetrelLegendary · Pelagic (very rare)
• European Storm PetrelRare · Atlantic; remote islands
• Leach's Storm PetrelRare · Atlantic; few remote colonies
• American KestrelLegendary · Open country (extreme vagrant)
• Amur FalconLegendary · Open country (extreme vagrant)
• Barolo ShearwaterLegendary · Open sea (extreme vagrant)

Kit that helps

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