Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Black Storm-Petrel
Scientific name:	Hydrobates melania
Date:	10/13/26
Time:	11:30am
Length of time observed:	5-10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Saratoga Springs Marina
County:	Utah
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:
Optical equipment:	Binoculars and spotting scope
Weather:	Clear
Light Conditions:	Partly cloudy
Description: Size of bird:	Absolute size could not be discerned from this distance, but notably larger than similar nearby Least Storm-Petrels.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Modified Storm-Petrel body plan, with longer wings relative to body size than other Storm-Petrels, and a decently lengthy tail.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Uniformly dark with a dark rump and no carpal bars discernible from this distance. Dark underwings.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Tubenose, presumably. Obviously not noticeable from this distance.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Black Storm-Petrel is basically the easiest and most straight-forward Storm-Petrel ID from a distance, being so unique in their behavior, size, flight style, and wing length/shape. ---Flight style: When first found, the buoyant nighthawk-like flight, less frequent flapping, deeper wingbeats, and less frantic zipping-around movements compared to other Storm-Petrels was what I noticed first, before seeing relative size and wing shape. Black Storm-Petrel flight is distinct among North American Storm-Petrels, and is a key identifying trait for this species when observed on moving boats from great distances. Seeing it from a stationary standpoint and through a scope made appreciating this much easier than it often is on pelagic trips. ---Size: Obviously larger than nearby Least Storm-Petrels when they would pass each other or fly adjacently for moments at a time. There were cormorants perched in vegetation out in the middle of the lake near where the Storm-Petrels were initially found, and, more than once, the Black Storm-Petrel and a Least Storm-Petrel briefly inspected the water around the vegetation near the cormorants together, leaving no doubt about this size difference possibly being a matter of the BLSP simply being closer to us than the LSTP. ---Wing shape: The relative length of the wing to the body size is most dramatic in Black Storm-Petrel of all North American Storm-Petrels. The length of the wings obviously contributes to their unique flight style, and you can see in two of the images included that it holds its wings straight up vertically, which BLSPs do for longer periods of time than other Storm-Petrels, holding them high above the horizontal plane of the body in between flaps, somewhat like a butterfly. LSTP has longish-wings relative to body size as well, but not nearly as dramatic as BLSP, and without such an obvious point. ---Rump: Dark ---Tail: The relatively long tail for a Storm-Petrel was noticeable in flight, but the pictures I obtained only show directly from the side or from the behind of the bird, and from this distance, most traits besides the wing length and shape are lost in the severity of the crop and the slight heat haze. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None
Behavior:	Somewhat associated with Least Storm-Petrels white actively foraging, or attempting to forage.
Habitat:	Freshwater lake
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	---Least Storm-Petrel: Size, flight style, wing shape, wing length, tail length ---Ashy Storm-Petrel: Dark underwings, flight style, size, wing shape, wing length ---Dark-rumped Leach s Storm-Petrel (Chapman s Storm-Petrel): Size, flight style, wing shape, wing length
Previous experience with this & similar species:	As far as dark-rumped Storm-Petrels go: I ve seen a thousand-ish Black Storm-Petrels, a hundred or two Least Storm-Petrels, and some Ashy Storm-Petrels (all of which have been observed and photographed at relatively close distance.) I ve also seen a couple of Dark-rumped Chapman s-Leach s Storm-Petrels. I feel confident identifying the expected Pacific dark-rumped Storm-Petrels from a distance, and have seen Black Storm-Petrel in side-by-side comparison with each of the aforementioned species, as well as Townsend s and Northern Leach s Storm-Petrels for direct comparison of flight style and overall GISS. I ve also seen each of the expected Atlantic North American Storm-Petrel species, but none of those are dark-rumped.
References consulted:	---Oceanic Birds of the World - A Photo Guide ---Seabirds - The New Identification Guide
Description from:	Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Quinn Diaz
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Tim Avery
Date prepared:	10/13/2026
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	https://ebird.org/checklist/S402135295