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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Oceanitidae
  4. ›
  5. Fregetta
  6. ›
  7. Black-bellied Storm Petrel
Black-bellied Storm Petrel
Photo · John Gould

BirdUp · Species

Black-bellied Storm Petrel

Fregetta tropica(Gould, 1844)

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PROCELLARIIFORMES
Family
Oceanitidae
Genus
Fregetta

At a glance

The Black-bellied Storm Petrel is a medium-sized bird, about 20 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
20 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Black-bellied Storm Petrel look like?

The Black-bellied Storm Petrel is a medium-sized bird, about 20 cm long and weighing 43–63 g.

The black-bellied storm petrel is a species of seabird in the family Oceanitidae.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
20 cm
Weight
43–63 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Black-bellied Storm Petrel?

The Black-bellied Storm Petrel is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Black-bellied Storm Petrel eat?

The Black-bellied Storm Petrel feeds on fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Black-bellied Storm Petrel live in Australia?

The Black-bellied Storm Petrel is native to Australia, recorded across 6 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingCircumpolar subantarctic islands of South Georgia, Antarctic Pen., Bouvetoya (south-west of south Africa), Tristan da Cunha perhaps including Gough (south-central Atlantic Ocean); Prince Edward, Crozet and Kerguelen (south-west to south-east Indian Ocean), Bounty, Antipodes and Auckland is. (south-east and south of South I., New Zealand)

Non-breedingSouthern oceans mostly south of Equator to Antarctic Convergence

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Passage
  • Vagrant

5 regions recorded