Puffinus opisthomelas
Coues, 1864
Black-vented Shearwater
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Near threatenedIUCN
Very high - highThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100686
Element CodeABNDB07100
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations, but breeds in a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderProcellariiformes
FamilyProcellariidae
GenusPuffinus
Other Common Names
Pardela Mexicana (ES) Puffin cul-noir (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Part of a superspecies complex with P. puffinus, P. auricularis, P. gavia, and P. huttoni (AOU 1998). The status of this and other closely related species is uncertain. Sometimes the entire complex is treated as a single species: P. puffinus (Manx shearwater). Sometimes P. opisthomelas is included with P. gavia (AOU 1983).
Conservation Status
Review Date2002-04-25
Change Date2000-10-26
Edition Date2002-04-25
Edition AuthorsCannings, S.
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent100-1000 square km (about 40-400 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Breeding restricted to a handful of small islands on the Pacific coast of Baja California; 95% of breeding population on one island. Population on the order of 80,000 pairs, but believed to be declining. Threatened by development on nesting islands (primary nesting island has a growing town within the colony) and by introduced mammals, especially cats. Cat eradication program underway.
Range Extent Comments
BREEDS: on a handful of islands on the Pacific coast of Baja California. RANGES AT SEA: along Pacific coast of North America, mainly from central California south to Baja California and northwestern mainland of Mexico (at least casually; Keitt et al. 2000).
Occurrences Comments
Known to breed at three locations: 95% of known breeding individuals nest on Natividad I.; the remaining 5% breed on San Benito Is., and Afuera and Negro Islets off Guadalupe I (Keitt et al. 2000). Other small colonies may exist (Keitt et al. 2000).
Threat Impact Comments
In the early 1900s, hunting had a major impact on Natividad Island colony. Collisions with lighted objects on Natividad Island may cause significant mortality. All breeding islands have permanent human inhabitants, and the town of Natividad and its surrounding development has led to the loss of an estimated 26,532 nesting burrows, or 15% of the former total (Keitt 1998). Feral cats are a major source of mortality; they are believed to be the cause of the extirpation of the colony on Guadalupe Island itself, and are probably causing a population decline on Natividad Island (see Trends). Rabbits, rats, and perhaps dogs are other potential major threats (Keitt et al. 2000). Goats and sheep were removed from Natividad Island by 1997.
Ecology & Habitat
Description
Small shearwater with dark brown upperparts smudging into dull white underparts; mostly white underwings with brownish trailing edges and brownish under tail-coverts. Variable mottling on sides of neck, shoulders, and flanks. Dark bill is slender and long, sharply hooked. Legs and feet dusky flesh-colored (Keitt et al. 2000).
Diagnostic Characteristics
Similar in plumage to Pink-footed Shearwater (PUFFINUS CREATOPUS), but smaller with faster wingbeat and lacks arcing flight pattern of Pink-footed. Manx (P. PUFFINUS) and Townsend's (P. AURICULARIS) Shearwaters are black-backed with strongly demarcated white underparts. Manx has white under tail coverts that extend up the sides. Audubon's (P. LHERMINIERI) and Townsend's Shearwaters are smaller-bodied; Townsend's has white flank patches (Keitt et al. 2000).
Habitat
Pelagic, but coastal; most frequently observed within 25 kilometres of shore. Nests on sparsely-vegetated islands in areas of permanent upwelling (Keitt et al. 2000). Generally prefers water warmer than 14 degrees Celsius (Ainley 1976).
Nests in burrows in sandy soil or in natural rock crevices (Keitt et al. 2000).
Nests in burrows in sandy soil or in natural rock crevices (Keitt et al. 2000).
Ecology
No information available on life span, survivorship, diseases, and parasites. Peregrine Falcons, Wetern Gulls, and Common Ravens are known predators on adults and/or juveniles (Keitt et al. 2000).
Reproduction
Age at first breeding unknown; probably 5 or 6 years (Keitt et al. 2000). Egg-laying generally begins in mid-March and lasts about two weeks; somewhat later and more spread out in EL Nino years (Keitt 1998, Keitt et al. 2000). Incubation lasts about 49 days, and young fledge at about 68 days of age. Both sexes incubate; incubation shifts last 3 to 5 days (Keitt et al. 2000). Clutch size: 1; hatching success 53%, nestling success 69%, overall reproductive success 36% (Natividad Island, 1997) (Keitt 1998). This relatively low success rate may be explained by El Nino conditions and corresponding low food availability at end of 1997 breeding season (Keitt et al. 2000).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNRN
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| California | SNRN | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Pervasive - large | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 1.1 - Housing & urban areas | Pervasive - large | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 4 - Transportation & service corridors | Large - small | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | Low (long-term) |
| 4.1 - Roads & railroads | Large - small | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | Low (long-term) |
| 5 - Biological resource use | Pervasive (71-100%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.4 - Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Pervasive (71-100%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive - large | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive - large | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9 - Pollution | Large - small | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9.6 - Excess energy | Large - small | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (4)
Oregon (4)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Tenmile | Siuslaw National Forest | 10,818 |
| Tenmile | Siuslaw National Forest | 10,818 |
| Umpqua Spit | Siuslaw National Forest | 2,090 |
| Umpqua Spit | Siuslaw National Forest | 2,090 |
References (21)
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- American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
- American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
- BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
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- Keitt, B. S., B. R. Tershy, and D. A. Croll. 2000. Black-vented Shearwater (PUFFINUS OPISTHOMELAS). No. 521 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, eds., The birds of North America. The Birds of North America Inc., Philadelphia. 16pp.
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