Sooty Tern vs Stejneger's Petrel

The Sooty Tern and Stejneger's Petrel are both seabirds but differ significantly in appearance and behavior. Sooty Terns are sleek, black-and-white terns that rarely rest on water, while Stejneger's Petrels are smaller, with a distinctive blackish hood and 'M' pattern on their upper wings.

Look for the blackish hood and 'M' pattern on Stejneger's Petrel for quick identification. Sooty Terns are best identified by their black upperparts and white underparts. Note the larger size and robust build of the Sooty Tern compared to the more delicate Stejneger's Petrel.

Sooty Tern is larger and more robust than the smaller, more delicate Stejneger's Petrel.

Sooty Tern has a striking black upper body and white underparts, with a clean separation between the two. Stejneger's Petrel features a blackish hood, blue-grey back, and a distinctive 'M' pattern on its upper wings.

Sooty Terns are almost always airborne, feeding by dipping or snatching fish in midair. Stejneger's Petrels are known for their pelagic lifestyle, often seen flying low over the water.

Sooty Terns inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans, nesting on remote islands. Stejneger's Petrels breed on a single island but migrate across the Pacific, favoring the temperate north Pacific during non-breeding seasons.