storm petrel
Refers to any bird of the family Hydrobatidae. Typically written in katakana as ウミツバメ.
The storm petrel is a small bird that flies over the ocean.
Katakana spelling is common for this bird name; usually written in kana.
Kanji form is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 海 (umi, “sea”) and 燕 (tsubame, “swallow”), referring to the bird's swallow-like appearance and marine habitat. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.