Black-vented Shearwater
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| ?Black-vented Shearwater Conservation status: Near threatened |
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| Puffinus opisthomelas Coues, 1864 |
The Black-vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomlas) is a species of seabird. The bird is 30-38 cm in size, with a 76-89 cm wingspan. This was formerly considered to be a race of the Manx Shearwater.
This species is pelagic, occurring in the Pacific Ocean. However it occurs closer to land than most other shearwaters, so it sometimes can be seen from shore. It predominantly nests on offshore islands off the Baja peninsula of Mexico. It is fairly common off the United States coast of central and southern California during the country's colder months.
This bird nests in burrows and caves. It is a colonial nester.
Black-vented Shearwater is thought to feed on mainly small fish.
In the past, this bird had been threatened by introduced cats and other predators on its breeding islands, but the problem seems to have been largely eliminated. There is some loss of birds from commercial gill netting.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Puffinus opisthomelas. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of vulnerable,and the criteria used
- "National Geographic" Field Guide to the Birds of North America ISBN 0-792-26877-6
- Seabirds, an Identification Guide by Peter Harrison, ISBN 0-7470-8028-8
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol 1, Josep del Hoyo editor, ISBN 84-87334-10-5
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