petrel Hear it!

petrel Definition

pet·rel (petrəl)

noun

a member of any of three families (esp. Procellariidae) of small, marine tubenose birds with long wings, including storm petrels and shearwaters

Etymology: earlier pitteral < ?

petrel Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • see: A walk to see the petrels around their burrows in the forest.
  • breed: The last census also provided the first reliable estimates of the number of breeding petrels and shearwaters, using recently developed techniques.
  • hear: A midnight excursion to see and hear the storm petrels is an experience not to be missed.
  • include: The visitors included petrels, skuas, cormorants and terns.

Adjective modifier

  • stormy: You are the stormy petrel of crime, Watson.
  • giant: Hundreds of shearwaters were dashing over the sea, as were a number of giant petrels.
  • diving: I was hoping for my next family, diving petrels, from this ferry!
  • southern: Possibly land at Hannah Point, whose wildlife showcase features elephant seals, cape pigeons, southern giant petrels, macaroni and gentoo penguins.
  • small: They also prey heavily on the eggs and chicks of penguins and small petrels.
  • soft-plumaged: We no longer saw Great Shearwaters and Grey-headed Albatross as we were too far south and we saw only the occasional Soft-plumaged Petrel.

Modifies a noun

  • nest: Wilsonâs storm petrels and black-bellied storm petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.

Noun used with modifier

  • storm: In the autumn, Europe's smallest sea bird, the storm petrel, joins the throng.
  • snow: We'll attempt a landing at Coronation Island, known for its extensive moss beds, nesting penguins and beautiful snow petrels.
  • cape: We also sighted the first true Antarctic bird, a cape petrel, which had come up to Brazil to feed.
  • gadfly: The gadfly petrels pose a challenge to modern taxonomists.