The population from Tierra del Fuego was described as chilensis (=wollastoni, magellanicus) but this is considered a nomen nudum although some authors have reinstated it, noting that it can be distinguished by white mottling on the belly.

It is slightly larger than the European storm petrel and is essentially dark brown in all plumages, except for the white rump and flanks.

The European storm petrel has a very distinct whitish lining to the underwing and a nearly all dark upperwing.

Wilson's storm petrel has a diffuse pale band along the upper wing coverts and lacks the distinctive white underwing lining.

It spends the rest of the year at sea, and moves into the northern oceans in the southern hemisphere's winter.

Wilson's storm petrel is common off eastern North America in the northern summer and the seasonal abundance of this bird in suitable European waters has been revealed through pelagic boat trips, most notably in the area of the Isles of Scilly and Great Britain.

Even in calm weather, they can make use of the slight breeze produced by the waves and in effect soar while using their feet to stabilize themselves.

[14] It nests in colonies close to the sea in rock crevices or small burrows in soft earth and lays a single white egg.

[20] Widespread throughout its large range, Wilson's storm petrel is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.