The Elliot's Storm Petrel (Oceanites gracilis) is a species of seabird in the storm-petrel family Hydrobatidae. The species is also known as White-vented Storm-petrel. There are two subspecies, O. g. gracilis, which is found in the Humboldt Current off Peru and Chile, and O. g. galapagoensis, which is found in the waters around the Galapagos Islands. It is a sooty-black storm-petrel with a white rump. It has long legs which extend beyond the body in flight.
In spite of the frequent sightings of this species it is very poorly known; only one nest has ever been found. The feeding behaviour of the Galapagos subspecies is unusual amongst storm-petrels as it forages close to shore; all other storm-petrels are exclusively pelagic.
Famous quotes containing the words elliot, storm and/or petrel:
“I’ll be right here.”
—Melissa Mathison, U.S. screenwriter, and Steven Spielberg. ET, ET The Extra-Terrestrial, saying goodbye to Elliot as he touches Elliot’s forehead—ET’s final words in the film (1982)
“Think of the storm roaming the sky uneasily
like a dog looking for a place to sleep in,
listen to it growling.”
—Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979)
“Through the dark cold and the empty desolation,
The wave cry, the wind cry, the vast waters
Of the petrel and the porpoise. In my end is my beginning.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)