Matsudaira's Storm-Petrel Hydrobates matsudairae

Dark brown, lanky seabird, large and long-billed for a storm-petrel, with long, angular wings Breeds on southern Japanese islands and winters in the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans. Powerful, slow flight style contrasts with swifter flight of smaller species. Somewhat resembles the larger Bulwer’s Petrel, but Matsudaira’s tail is forked, not wedge-shaped. Bright white shafts of the primary feathers give it an almost skua-like appearance, even from a distance. Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrel similar but smaller, with more graceful flight style. Tristram’s Storm-Petrel also similar but lacks the primary shafts and usually has a more contrasting carpal bar.