Rare visitor off California. Adult has pale head with uniform thin streaks, dark upperwings and back, white underparts, white underwings with unmarked axillaries and dark primary coverts, and pinkish bill. Flight is relatively slow, soaring.

Length: 48 (cm) Wingspan: 122 (cm)

Habitat:

Open ocean, rarely seen from shore.

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.