Diet
The diet of many storm petrels species is poorly known due to difficulties in researching; overall the family is thought to concentrate on crustaceans. Small fish, oil droplets and molluscs are also taken by many species. Some species are known to be rather more specialised; the Grey-backed Storm Petrel is known to concentrate on the larvae of goose barnacles.
Almost all species forage in the pelagic zone, except for the Elliot's Storm Petrels which are coastal feeders in the Galapagos Islands. Although storm petrels are capable of swimming well and often form rafts on the water's surface they do not feed on the water. Instead feeding usually takes place on the wing, with birds hovering above or 'walking' on the surface (see morphology) and snatching small morsels. Rarely prey is obtained by making shallow dives under the surface.
Like many seabirds storm petrels will associate with other species of seabird and marine mammal species in order to help obtain food. It is theorised that they benefit from the actions of diving predators such as seals and penguins which push prey up towards the surface while hunting, allowing the surface feeding storm petrels to reach them.
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