Sooty Shearwater Photo Gallery

Relatively large, all-dark shearwater with silvery flashes under the wing. Note narrow wings, short tail, and slender, strongly hooked, tubenosed bill.

Relatively large, all-dark shearwater with straight, narrow wings, heavy body, and small head.

Often flies low to the water with stiff wingbeats interspersed with long glides.

Relatively large, all-dark shearwater with silvery flashes under the wing. Note slender, sharply hooked, tubenosed bill. Typically seen on the open ocean; only occasionally from shore.

Relatively large, all-dark shearwater with small, rounded head.

Flock

Sometimes occurs in immense flocks such as in fall along the California coast. Breeds in the Southern Hemisphere and travels into most of the world's oceans on long annual migrations.