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View synonyms for storm petrel

storm petrel

or storm-petrel

noun

  1. any of several small, tube-nosed seabirds of the family Hydrobatidae, usually having black or sooty-brown plumage with a white rump.


storm petrel

noun

  1. any small petrel, such as the northern Hydrobates pelagicus, of the family Hydrobatidae, typically having a dark plumage with paler underparts Also calledMother Carey's chickenstormy petrel
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of storm petrel1

First recorded in 1795–1805
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Word History and Origins

Origin of storm petrel1

C19: so named because it was thought to be a harbinger of rough weather
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Example Sentences

With no terrestrial predators to steal their eggs, these islands are breeding sanctuaries for ground- and cliff-nesting seabirds like the western gull, Scripps’s murrelet and the ashy storm petrel.

To save storm petrels, VanderWerf said, scientists need to act before populations crash.

To save storm petrels, VanderWerf said, scientists need to act before populations have crashed.

The white-faced storm petrels at risk there were especially charismatic—they appear to walk on water—and easily gained public support.

The team also resighted a Leach's storm petrel banded there 31 years ago.

From Salon

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