The Black-vented Shearwater 



with an instructive record. An unseasonable storm will take added toll 

 of even such hardened veterans as these; and the attendant mortality is 

 reported in headlines next day on shore. 



The Pink-footed Shearwater was originally described by Dr. Elliott 

 Coues, from a specimen taken by our Dr. J. G. Cooper in July, 1863, 

 off San Nicolas Island. It proves, however, to be a regular component of 

 those enormous shoals of southern-bred shearwaters which annually 

 flood our coasts. Appearing as early as the end of February, the end of 

 the Antarctic summer, they do not become common till the end of May 

 or early June; while those which are still lingering with us at the end of 

 November may be assumed to be immature or non-breeding birds. 



The Farallon Islands are assigned by the A. O. U. as the northern 

 limit of their occurrence, but I once found a stranded specimen on the 

 coast of Washington above Gray's Harbor; and there really is no reason 

 why they should not accompany their friends, the Sooties, all the way to 

 Alaska. Of the breeding range of P. creatopus little is known, but it is 

 surmised to be somewhere along the coast of southern Chile. 



No. 406 



Black-vented Shearwater 



A. O. U. No. 93. Puffinus opisthomelas Coues. 



Description. — (General coloration much as in preceding species). Adult: 

 Upper plumage dark sooty brown to blackish, lighter forward, blacker behind, shading 

 on sides of head, neck (often nearly meeting across chest), and breast, and on sides, to 

 white of remaining underparts; under tail-coverts and crissum, just short of vent, 

 sooty brown; lining of wings white, or dusky-flecked; the axillaries broadly tipped with 

 sooty. Bill slender, blackish above (in the skin), lighter below; tarsus behind and 

 outer toe blackish ; tarsus in front and inner toes, with webs (drying) yellowish. Length 

 (av. of 10 Monterey specimens): 373 (14.69); wing 237.3 (9.34); bill, length 37.6 (1.48), 

 depth at base 11. 7 (.46); tarsus 45.5 (1.79). 



Recognition Marks. — Teal size; but appearing larger; black-and-white, the 

 smallest of the local shearwaters; very like P. creatopus in color pattern, but white of 

 underparts clearer and more extensive save for sooty more broadly encroaching on 

 sides of neck and breast. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nests in colonies. -Egg.' Single; 

 elongate ovate; white; laid at end of burrow 2 to 8 feet in length. Av. size 59 x 39.8 

 (2.32 x 1.56); index 67.2. Season: c. April 10. 



General Range. — Pacific Ocean off coast of North America. Breeds on islands 

 adjoining Lower California and western Mexico; migrates and forages along coast of 

 California and north to Vancouver Island. 



Occurrence in California. — Abundant migrant and forager from July or August 

 to late April. 



1998 



