An all-dark shearwater, common off Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Adult is sooty gray overall with silvery panels on underwings and relatively long, dark bill. Has longer bill than Short-tailed Shearwater, more slender shape than Northern Fulmar. Wings are long and narrow, generally held straight out in wheeling and banking flight. Shallow arcing flight consists of an alternating series of rapid wingbeats and longer glides.

Length: 46 (cm) Wingspan: 104 (cm)

Habitat:

Open ocean; rarely near shore, but more likely to be seen from land than most other shearwaters.

Behavior:

Nests on oceanic islands, laying one egg inside burrow. At sea, a strong flier; aerodynamic flight uses air currents off waves. Sometimes follows boats to scavenge scraps.

Feeding:

Plunge-dives or picks food from water's surface; eats a variety of fish, squid, other small aquatic organisms, and scraps.