Monotypic. Grouped by some authorities within a superspecies including Leach's Storm-Petrel and Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel
 

Identification

Medium-brown Storm-petrel with lighter wing linings and long tail. Browner than either Black or Least Storm-petrels, often seeming to have a gray cast to them.

During at ease flight, Ashy's wing beat rhythum is intermediate between that of Black Storm-petrel and Least Storm-petrel but with shallower strokes, particularly on the upstroke which does not lift above the plain of the body. Gregarious, sometimes found in very large roosts (e.g. on N and S rims of Monterey Submarine Canyon).
 

Where and When

Restricted to the coast of California and Northern Mexico. Breeds off California (Farallon Islands, Channel Islands (San Miguel, Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara) and south to the Coronados Islands off Tijuana on the US-Mexico border. Click here to view a range map for the Caribbean and central America. A major fraction of the world population occurs in Monterey Bay during the fall. Winter range poorly known.
 

Photographs on the web

In power flight showing underwing Photo by Monte Taylor. Presumably taken off California?
 
 

Literature

Copyright © 2002 All rights reserved. Angus Wilson
Back to the Seabird List Home Page
To the Marine Mammal List Page
To the World's Best Pelagics
Back to the Ocean Wanderers Home Page