From Opus

Photo by Glen Tepke
Photo taken in Pacific west of Carmel, California, USA, August 2003

Oceanodroma melania

[edit] Identification

Length 9" (23 cm), wingspan 19-22" (48-56 cm). Largest dark storm-petrel in range. Dark blackish brown overall with lighter carpal bars. Very long, pointed wings.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds off the southern California coast of the United States and off the Baja Peninsula and Gulf of California of Mexico. Ranges to Peru

Yellow category on the Audubon Watchlist.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Pelagic when not breeding.

[edit] Behaviour

Slow, deep wingbeats, glides often.

[edit] Breeding

It nests in rock crevices, sometimes in burrows. The single egg is incubated by both adults for about 50 days. The chick fledging after 10 weeks. The adults visit the nest nocturnally to avoid predation.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes mainly planktonic crustaceans, also small fish and offal.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Wikipedia

• List of references

[edit] External Links