Getting Their Feet Wet

What bird can walk on water?

The smallest seabirds in the world, the storm petrel is barely larger than a common sparrow. It is a sooty black color, with a square tail and heavy black bill.

Storm petrels have a unique feeding style; they appear to walk on water as they patter across the surface of the waves with their wings in a V position, scooping up small fish, plankton, and crustaceans.

Storm petrels are nocturnal and can be heard singing from their nests at night. They can live up to 11 years—impressive for such small birds.