petrel

/ˈpɛtrəl/

Other forms: petrels

Definitions of petrel

1. noun

   relatively small long-winged tube-nosed bird that flies far from land
   types:

   Procellaria aequinoctialis, white-chinned petrel

   large black petrel of southern seas having a white mark on the chin

   Macronectes giganteus, giant fulmar, giant petrel

   large brownish petrel chiefly of Antarctic seas

   Fulmarus glacialis, fulmar, fulmar petrel

   heavy short-tailed oceanic bird of polar regions

   shearwater

   long-winged oceanic bird that in flight skims close to the waves

   storm petrel

   any of various small petrels having dark plumage with paler underparts

   Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus

   small black-and-white shearwater common in the northeastern Atlantic

   Hydrobates pelagicus, northern storm petrel, stormy petrel

   sooty black petrel with white markings; of the northern Atlantic and Mediterranean

   Mother Carey's chicken, Mother Carey's hen, Oceanites oceanicus

   medium-sized storm petrel

   type of:

   oceanic bird, pelagic bird

   bird of the open seas