Family: Procellariidae, Shearwaters and Petrels view all from this family

Description ALL BIRDS Have uniformly dark brown upperparts, but mainly pale underparts: throat and belly are white and underwing coverts are often mainly pale, but with variable dark mottling. Bill is large, thick, pink, and dark-tipped.

Dimensions Length: 20" (51 cm)

Habitat Nests in Southern Hemisphere; nonbreeding visitor to North Pacific, common May-Aug.

Observation Tips Favors offshore waters; easiest to see on pelagic trips, hard to observe from land.

Range Northwest, Alaska, Western Canada, California

Voice Silent at sea.

Similar Species Buller's Shearwater P. bulleri (W 39-40 in) has gleaming white underparts and gray upperparts boldly marked by black bar on wing coverts. Nonbreeding visitor to North Pacific and locally common May-Aug.

Discussion Large, plump-bodied, relatively broad-winged shearwater. Has a proportionately long, thick neck, large head, and elongated tail end. Flight is impressive and effortless in strong winds, but labored on calm days. Underwing markings are useful in identification.