Black-vented Shearwater

Puffinus opisthomelas Order: PROCELLARIIFORMESFamily: Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)
Black-vented Shearwater Male Portrait
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Range Map for Black-vented Shearwater

Overview

Black-vented Shearwater: Medium shearwater, brown-black upperparts, white underparts, brown mottling on sides of breast and flanks. Dark cap extends below eye. Tail is dark. Eats fish, crustaceans, and squid. Quick low flight with short stiff wingbeats followed by glide. Soars in high winds.

Range and Habitat

Black-vented Shearwater: Breeds on islands off Baja California. Year-round visitor off the coast of southern California, but most commonly in late fall and winter. Lives on open ocean, only comes ashore to breed.

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Listen:

Voice Text

Generally silent

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Related Birds:

Greater Shearwater
Pink-footed Shearwater
Cook's Petrel
Streaked Shearwater
Buller's Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
Stejneger's Petrel
Audubon's Shearwater
Little Shearwater
.

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Family Shearwater (Procellariidae)_blue
Species Puffinus opisthomelas
Length13 - 14 Inches
Wingspan32.5 Inches

Black-vented Shearwater

Black-vented Shearwater: Medium shearwater, brown-black upperparts, white underparts, brown mottling on sides of breast and flanks. Dark cap extends below eye. Tail is dark. Eats fish, crustaceans, and squid. Quick low flight with short stiff wingbeats followed by glide. Soars in high winds.

● Song: Generally silent

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-vented Shearwater: Eats a variety of fish, crustaceans, and squid. Feeds by snatching food from the water surface, but sometimes plunge dives.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-vented Shearwater: One white egg is laid in a burrow or crevice lined with grass. Both parents incubate the egg for 51 days.

● Similar species: Black-vented Shearwater: Manx Shearwater has white undertail coverts and more contrast between upperparts and underparts. Pink-footed Shearwater is larger with darker breast and underwings.

Flight Pattern

Quick low flight with stiff short wing beats followed by a glide.
Black-vented Shearwater Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Black-vented Shearwater: Breeds on islands off Baja California. Year-round visitor off the coast of southern California, but most commonly in late fall and winter. Lives on open ocean, only comes ashore to breed.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationFairly common, Stable
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight9.7 Ounces