(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)

Sooty Shearwater - Puffinus griseus

Identification Tips:

  1. Length: 16 inches Wingspan: 43 inches
  2. Sexes similar
  3. Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
  4. Large shearwater
  5. Dark bill with tube on top
  6. Dark gray head, body and feet
  7. Pale underwings
  8. Rapid wingbeats
  9. Glides on stiff wings

Similar species:

Gulls are not as gray and flap their wings more slowly and smoothly and lack the tube on top of the bill. The gray morph of the Northern Fulmar is stockier and has a yellow bill. Flesh-footed Shearwater has pink legs and bill. Short-tailed Shearwater is very similar but is somewhat smaller with a steeper forehead.