Polynesian Storm Petrel

Open encyclopedia reference

The Polynesian storm petrel (Nesofregetta fuliginosa) is a species of seabird in the family Oceanitidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Nesofregetta. This species is markedly polymorphic, consisting of several subspecies. At one time the light-colored variety were even considered a species on their own (white-throated storm-petrel). However, subspecies are not generally accepted today.

Polynesian Storm-petrels can weigh anywhere from 56–86 g (2.0–3.0 oz) and can be as tall as 10.2 inches (260 mm). They are identifiable by their black bills, broad, round wings, and black feet. Some of the Polynesian Storm-petrels vary in regards to the white on their stomach, but can be identifiable through that as well. They can also be identified through their zig-zag flight patterns and their forked tail. Polynesian Storm-petrels nest in burrows they create on their nesting islands. The burrows are typically around vegetation or in rock crevices. The Polynesian Storm-petrel's natural habitats are open seas, rocky shores, and sandy shores.

Wikipedia contributors, Polynesian storm petrel; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T10:21:35.257539+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.

Identity & source status

Scientific name

Nesofregetta fuliginosa (J. F. Gmelin, 1789)

Name authority

(J. F. Gmelin, 1789)

Common name

Polynesian Storm Petrel

Rank

species

Accepted status

accepted

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Procellariiformes

Family

Oceanitidae

Genus

Nesofregetta

Extinction status

Recorded extant

Classification family tree

Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.

1. domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
2. kingdomAnimalia
3. phylumChordata
4. subphylumVertebrata
5. infraphylumGnathostomata
6. parvphylumOsteichthyes
7. megaclassTetrapoda
8. classAves
9. orderProcellariiformes
10. familyOceanitidae Forbes, 1882
11. genusNesofregetta Mathews, 1912
12. speciesNesofregetta fuliginosa (J. F. Gmelin, 1789)

Close classified relatives

No other member of this genus is present in the selected snapshot.

Browse 7 records assigned to Oceanitidae.

Names & synonyms

Names explicitly linked to this accepted taxon in the source. Synonymy can change with revision.

Documented distribution

Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.

Source literature & publication evidence

References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.

1. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=174661 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references

Origins, evidence & remaining research

Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.

Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record.

Dataset citation & attribution

This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11

Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.

Stable key: col:477T5. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.