Black-vented Shearwater

Puffinus opisthomelas Coues, 1864

408 gWeight

The black-vented shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) is a species of seabird endemic to islands off of the Pacific coast of Mexico and the Gulf of California.

Busiest months: November · Most records: United States, Mexico

Near Threatened

Where and when it's recorded

Black-vented Shearwater has been recorded at 21 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Pt. Pinos – seawatch onlyUnited States6,299 records
Southeast Farallon IslandUnited States1,018 records
Pt. PinosUnited States384 records

More places

Malibu Lagoon – State Beach including LagoonUnited States347 records
Moss Landing – Jetty Road, north jetty & State BeachUnited States63 records
Natural Bridges SBUnited States33 records
Pt. Reyes – Abbotts LagoonUnited States19 records
San Diego River mudflatsUnited States16 records
Bodega Bay – harbor and immediate vicinityUnited States13 records
Pillar Point HarborUnited States10 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United States Mexico

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The black-vented shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) is a species of seabird endemic to islands off of the Pacific coast of Mexico and the Gulf of California. It is a smaller shearwater, with a length of 30–38 cm, 76–89 cm wingspan and a mass of around 400 g. This species is pelagic and feeds mainly on small fish.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Black-vented Shearwater?

The Black-vented Shearwater weighs around 408 g.

Where does the Black-vented Shearwater live?

Its breeding range: Pacific Ocean: Island San Martin (west of northwestern Baja), Guadalupe, San Benito, Cedros, and Islands Natividad (west of central Baja California), and Island Rasa (northern Gulf of California; northwestern Mexico). It is most often recorded in United States and Mexico.

When is the best time to see the Black-vented Shearwater?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Black-vented Shearwater endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-vented Shearwater as Near Threatened.

What does the Black-vented Shearwater eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Black-vented Shearwater in?

It belongs to the family Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels (Procellariidae), order Procellariiformes.

At a glance

Weight: 408 g
Habitat: Ocean
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: Varied
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Near Threatened

More measurements

Wing: 233 mm
Tail: 80 mm
Bill: 42 mm
Tarsus: 44 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Pacific Ocean: Island San Martin (west of northwestern Baja), Guadalupe, San Benito, Cedros, and Islands Natividad (west of central Baja California), and Island Rasa (northern Gulf of California; northwestern Mexico)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2