Black-vented Shearwater
Puffinus opisthomelas
Silhouette: Juan Carlos Jerí · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderProcellariiformes (Tubenoses)
- FamilyProcellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)
- GenusPuffinus (Small Shearwaters)
- SpeciesPuffinus opisthomelas (Black-vented Shearwater)
About the Black-vented Shearwater
The black-vented shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) is a species of seabird endemic to islands off of the Pacific coast of Mexico and the Gulf of California. It is a smaller shearwater, with a length of 30–38 cm, 76–89 cm wingspan and a mass of around 400 g. This species is pelagic and feeds mainly on small fish. It is nocturnal, and is most active in low light settings.
The name "puffin" is thought to originate from the Middle English term "pophyn," which was used in the Middle Ages to describe the fatty, preserved young shearwaters that were prepared as food. Since shearwaters and Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) often nest in close proximity, the name 'puffin' was mistakenly applied to the Atlantic puffin. Over time, the name stuck, and today it is used for the Atlantic puffin species. The name "puffin" also remained associated with the shearwaters and the genus Puffinus.
The black-vented shearwater is one of around 21 other species in the genus Puffinus, eight of which reside in North and Middle America (see Christmas shearwater, Galápagos shearwater, Manx shearwater, Townsend's shearwater, Newell's shearwater, Bryan's shearwater, Sargasso shearwater... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Black-vented Shearwater in Channel Islands National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park
Sooty Shearwater
Puffinus griseus
Pink-footed Shearwater
Puffinus creatopus
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Puffinus carneipes
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
Short-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus tenuirostris
Buller's Shearwater
Puffinus bulleri
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus
Northern Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
Scopoli's Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea
Cook's Petrel
Pterodroma cookii
Streaked Shearwater
Calonectris leucomelas
Black Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates melania
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black-vented Shearwater in Channel Islands National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-vented Shearwater sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 1,816 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black-vented Shearwater in Channel Islands National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Black-vented Shearwater in Channel Islands National Park in our monthly data.