Accidental off California. Adult is black above with white underparts, white underwings with black leading and trailing edges, black cap and nape, white flanks, and thin black bill. Black-vented Shearwater is less crisply demarcated black and white, and has brownish tones. Also compare Manx Shearwater.

Length: 33 (cm) Wingspan: 83 (cm)

Habitat:

Open ocean, rarely seen from shore.

Behavior:

Nests in burrows on brushy slopes. At sea, a strong flier; aerodynamic flight uses air currents off waves. Population size probably less than 1,000 individuals; critically endangered by nesting habitat degradation and introduced feral animals.

Feeding:

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