SOOTY SHEARWATER 



the flanks mottled with grayish. (There is a 

 variation in the amount of grayish mottling on 

 the under parts). Bill pale yellowish flesh 

 color; feet flesh color. 



May occasionally visit the Bay of Panama 

 under the same conditions as the following 

 species P. griseus, with which it associates. Its 

 only known breeding places are on Juan Fernan- 

 dez and Santa Clara Islands off Chile. 



2. Puffinus griseus (Gmelin) 

 Sooty Shearwater 



Sexes alike. Length, about 458 mm. (18.00 



in.); tail about 106 mm. (4.20 in.), graduated 

 23 mm. (0.90 in.). Plumage generally sooty 

 brown, grayer below, the throat and breast 

 paler. Bill blackish. 



Breeds far south in the southern hemisphere, 

 migrating to the North Atlantic and North 

 Pacific. It is mostly likely to occur in the Bay 

 of Panama in summer or fall. "The flight of 

 the Sooty Shearwater is swift, graceful and 

 strong; like the other species of Puffinus it can 

 sail for long distances on its long, stiff wings 

 without even a tremor, except to adjust them 

 slightly to the wind, rising at will over the 

 crests of the waves or gliding between the valleys 

 of them. . . . Although usually to be found only 

 far offshore, shearwaters are occasionally driven 

 in near the land by stormy weather, particularly 

 when gathering in flocks or migrating." Bent, 

 49 



