The type specimen was collected in the Bering Sea during Captain Cook's last voyage.

Two subspecies recognized:
O. f. furcata - Commander Islands, Kurile Islands and Aleutian Islands.
O. f. plumbea - southern Alaska to northern California.

Also known as Grey Storm-petrel

Figure 1 Fork-tailed Storm-petrel photographed on 23 August 1999 during a Shearwater Journeys trip to the Cordell Bank, California. Still image taken from a digital video. Copyright of Angus Wilson© 1999
 

Identification

Figure 2 Fork-tailed Storm-petrel photographed on 23 August 1999 during a Shearwater Journeys trip to the Cordell Bank, California. Copyright of Angus Wilson© 1999
 

Where and When

An abundant breeder in the Aleutian Islands, dispersing to feed in the southern Bering Sea. Uncommon north of 58 deg. North.

Figure 3 Fork-tailed Storm-petrel photographed on 23 August 1999 during a Shearwater Journeys trip to the Cordell Bank, California. Copyright of Angus Wilson© 1999
 

Photographs on the web

In flight Photo by Ron LeValley
 

Literature

Boersma, P. D., & J. K. Parrish. (1998) Flexible growth rates in Fork-tailed Storm-petrels: a response to environmental variability. Auk 115: 67-75.

Paulson, D. R. (1992) The distribution of the Northern Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel. Wash. Birds 2: 6-7.