Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Molothrus ("struggle to sire") ater ("black")

Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) on Half Moon Bay Pelagic September 2022

Featured Subspecies: unclear
Weight: 38-49g  /  Length: 16-22cm  /  Wingspan: 36cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A noted brood-parasite, the brown-headed cowbird isn't nearly as specialised into it as other noted species such as the common cuckoo, and taks a fairly cattershot approach, to the point where it has been recording attempting to parasitise over 220 other species. It's aided by the fact it is prolific at producting eggs, with up to 36 a season being recorded! Bizarrely, the first time I saw this species was miles out to sea where one came in and landed on our boat!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Molothrus
SUBSPECIES: M. a. artemisiae, M. a. obscurus, M. a. ater, M. a. californicus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeding or resident throughout almost all of Lower 48, Winters only in Southern Florida
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip and in Half Moon Bay

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pelecanus ("pelican") occidentalis ("Western")

 

Numerous Brown Pelican (subspecies P. o. californicus) at Half Moon Bay, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Weight: 2-5kg  /  Length: 100-152cm  /  Wingspan: 200-228cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest of the extant pelican species and one that capable of achieving great local abundancy when the right conditions are met - in the case of Half Moon bay, perhaps hundreds were roosting on the rocky harbour walls, enabled by the abundant fishing grounds of the Pacific. They are also similarly, a species that tolerates humans well, with them being seen regularly even in urbanised areas along the sea.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Pelecanidae
Genus: Pelecanus
SUBSPECIES: P. o. californicus, P. o. carolinensis, P. o. occidentalis, P. o. murphyi, P. o. urinator

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Much of the coast of the Lower 48
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley, Monterey, Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip and San Francisco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Phoebastria ("prophetess") nigripes ("black foot") 

Adult Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) on Half Moon Bay Pelagic September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2.6-4.3kg  /  Length: 68-74cm  /  Wingspan: 190-220cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The Black-footed Albatross breeds almost exclusively in the Northwestern Islands of Hawai'i but roams over the entire Northern Pacific. Unusually for an albatross, they have dark plumage throughout their life cycle, save for a slight white mask. They are considered near threatened as they are at risk from fishing, oil spills, floating plastics and on one of it's breeding island, volcanic eruptions. With so much of it's population centred breeding on a small area it is also vulnerable to disasters.

Related Species:
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Diomedeidae
Genus: Phoebastria
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES Hawai'ian: Ka‘upu
Found throughout the North Pacific, breeding in Hawai'i
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Pink-footed Shearwater (Ardenna creatopus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Ardenna ("of Ardennes") creatopus ("flesh foot")

 Adult Pink-footed Shearwater (Ardenna creatopus) on Half Moon Bay Pelagic September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 580-900g  /  Length: 48cm  /  Wingspan: 109cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The Pink-footed Shearwater is a fairly large Shearwater species found on the waters off the Pacific off the Americas. It breeds primarily on the Juan Fernández Islands and Isla Mocha in Chile and disperses over vast distances as far North as Alaska. It's exact taxonomy is somewhat in dispute as some genetic testing as suggested it is only neglibily different from the similar Flesh-footed shearwater.

Related Species:
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Ardenna
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Seen offshore on the Pacific coasts
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip
 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Buller's Shearwater (Ardenna bulleri)

OTHER NAMES: Gray-backed Shearwater, New Zealand Shearwater
Latin Etymology: Ardenna ("of Ardennes") bulleri (named for Sir Walter Lawry Buller)  

Adult Buller's Shearwater (Ardenna bulleri) on Half Moon Bay Pelagic - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 342-425g  /  Length: 46-47cm  /  Wingspan: 97-99cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

A larger shearwater with a distinctive pale back marked by a large "M" shaped marking across the back of the wings. It nests primarily on the islands of Tawhiti Rahi and Aorangi off the coast of New Zealand where it nests in burrows or crevices. Outside the breeding season it roams much of the Pacific ocean, largely in a clockwise direction.

Related Species:
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Ardenna
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

A pelagic Pacific species seem offshore from the West Coast and Hawai'i

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black Storm Petrel (Hydrobates melania)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Hydrobates ("water walker") melania ("black")

 

Black Storm Petrel (Hydrobates melania) on Half Moon Bay Pelagic - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 60g  /  Length: 23cm  /  Wingspan: 46-51cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Black Storm Petrel is one of a number of petrels that frequent the rich waters off the coast of California, and in this case where this species breeds. As is usual with storm petrels, they attend their colonies nocturnally so as to avoid predation from other bird species. It is the largest storm petrel found off California.

Related Species:
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Hydrobatidae
Genus: Hydrobates
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds along the Coast of all 4 Continental Pacific States
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Fratercula ("little brother; friar") cirrhata ("curly haired")

 

Breeding plumage Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) on LHalf Moon Bay Pelagic - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 750g  /  Length: 35m  /  Wingspan: 63cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Tufted Puffin is the largest and most distinct of the three Puffin species, and is named for the long blonde "swoops" of feathers on its head while in breeding plumage. A species localised to the North Pacific, it is found ranging from California to Northern Japan, although outside the breeding species it heads out to sea. Amazingly, this species has actually been recorded in the UK, with a single bird having turned up very briefly at a site widely featured on this blog: Oare Marshes!

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Fratercula
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds along the Coast of all 4 Continental Pacific States
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)

OTHER NAMES: Rhino Auklet, Horn-billed Puffin, Unicorn Puffin
Latin Etymology: Cerorhinca ("horn bill") monocerata ("one horned")

Two breeding plumage Rhinoceros Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) seen on Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 350-620g  /  Length: 28-29cm  /  Wingspan: 59-62cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Rhinoceros Auklet is the closest relation of the puffins, and shares some similar traits including a fairly dumpy body with a relatively short thick bill used to grasp prey in lines, and the fact it has an unusually decorated beak which is lost in winter. In this case, the namesake "horn" is lost in Winter. Additionally, like the puffins, it is a burrow nester.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Cerorhinca
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska and small areas of all West Coast states, found in non-breeding season offshore of the Lower 48
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Brachyramphus ("short bill") marmoratus ("marbled")

Two non-breeding Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) seen on Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 220g  /  Length: 25cm  /  Wingspan: 40cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Endangered

The Marbled Murrelet is a peculiarity in several ways; it was one of the last North American breeding birds to have its breeding habitat discovered, and it turns out this was due to it being them, unusually for seabirds, being in trees, and specifically in the moss at the top of old growth trees, the characteristics of which don't appear to apear until trees are at least 175yrs old. It's nesting habitat wasn't actually locations until 1974. It is also somewhat unusual in that in contrast to many auk species, its non-breeding plumage is the more dramatic black and white, in contrast with brown breeding plumage.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Brachyramphus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska and small areas of all West Coast states, found offshore in the North Pacific
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Larus ("gull") occidentalis ("western")

Adult Western Gull (subspecies L. o. occidentalis) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Laris occidentalis occidentalis
Weight: 1000g  /  Length: 55-68cm  /  Wingspan: 130-144cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large and almost entirely coastal species of gull, the Western Gull was the most commonly seen gull species during my visit to California. They share the versatility of many gull species in terms of feeding in terms of scavenging, but are also known to be actively predatory to birds when the opportunity arises. Further North they regularly hybridise with Glaucous-winged Gull to produce a hybrid known as the "Olympic Gull" which in the intergrade zone of the two species proves to be very successful.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
SUBSPECIES: L. o. occidentalis, L. o. wymani

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Resident on the coasts of California, Washington and Oregon
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Hayward, Berkeley, Monterey and on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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California Gull (Larus californicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Larus ("gull") californicus ("of California")

 
Adult California Gull (Larus californicus) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: -Unclear-
Weight: 430-1045g  /  Length: 46-55cm  /  Wingspan: 122-137cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name, the California Gull actually has the bulk of its breeding range in Canada, and aside from the North-East most corner of the state is primarily a non-breeding migrant to its namesake. They are the State Bird of Utah, on account of an event where a huge flock appearing and consuming a huge swarm of crickets that was destroying the crops of Mormon Pioneers in Salt Lake Valley, which is named "the Mircale of the Gulls".

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
SUBSPECIES: L. c. californicus, L. c. albertaensis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
A patchy breedin range in the North West of the Lower 48, Wintering on the West Coast.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  Berkeley and on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea)

OTHER NAMES: Muttonbird
Latin Etymology: Ardenna ("of Ardennes") grisea ("grey")

Adult Sooty Shearwaters (Ardenna grisea) on Half Moon Bay Pelagic - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: None - monotypic
Weight: 650-980g  /  Length: 40-51cm  /  Wingspan: 94-110cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The sooty shearwater is a somewhat strange species to quantify; it had a vast range that covers much of the Atlantic, Pacific and South Seas ranging from Iceland to nearly Antarctica, and circumnavigates the world. Yet it also has a very very small number of breeding locations - limited entirely to some at the Southern most tip of South America, the East Coast of Australia and a number around New Zealand. Yet because of their pelagic lifestyle they wander the globe hunting for fish and squid, often following whales. They are one of a number of all-dark shearwater species globally, but the only one found in the UK, where they are best seen in late Summer.

Related Species:
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Ardenna
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A somewhat uncommon pelagic passage migrant.

 - One bird seen on a boat trip off The Lizard, Cornwall, 

UNITED STATES 
Found off Pacific and Atlantic Coasts, including Hawai'i
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Abundant on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)

OTHER NAMES: Parasitic Jaeger, Arctic Jaeger, Parasitic Skua
Latin Etymology: Stercorarius ("of dung") parasiticus ("parasitic)

First Calender Year Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk -  July 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 300-650g  /  Length: 41-48cm  /  Wingspan: 107-125cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Arctic Skua is the smallest of the four skuas found in the UK; a group that I'd had a lot of trouble catching up with at all.  The three smaller skuas (arctic, great and pomarine) all have fairly similar plumage and occur in different colour morphs broadly categorised as light and dark. Compared to the other two species, it has a shorter tail and is smaller.  They are migratory, breeding mostly around the Arctic ocean and migrating to spend Winters around the South of South America, Africa and Australasia. 

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Stercorariidae
Genus: Stercorarius
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very local breeding species in the North of Scotland (2100 pairs) and passage migrant along all coasts.

 - A single dark phase bird seen at Herne Bay in October 2019, .

 - A single 1cy bird seen at Winterton-on-Sea in July 2023, .

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska, coastal passage elsewhere
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus)

OTHER NAMES: Baird's Cormorant, Violet-green Cormorant

Latin Etymology: Urile (Russian name for Red-faced cormorant) pelagicus ("marine/pelagic")

                             Winter plumage Pelagic Cormorant (subspecies P. p. pelagicus) at Shiranuka, Japan - December 2014

Featured Subspecies: Urile pelagicus pelagicus

Weight: 1.4-2.4kg  /  Length: 64-89cm  /  Wingspan: 100cm

ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Pelagic Cormorant is a fairly small cormorant found around the rim of the Northern Pacific, from Southern Japan to Mexico. I saw this species twice, both times in Hokkaido.  Despite the name, both of the individuals I saw were close in to shore, the former close out on the sea, and this second individual that the picture above shows one that was feeding inside Shiranuka harbour itself.

Related Species:
Order: Suliformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Urile
Subspecies: U. p. pelagicus, U. p. resplendens

 - Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - ヒメウ  /  Hime-u ("Princess Cormorant")

Widespread Coastal Resident

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Seen at Shiranuka (1 Winter plumage adult, on the sea) and Akkeshi (1 Winter Plumage adult, on the sea)

UNITED STATES 
Found along the Pacific Coast
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Francisco and on Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

OTHER NAMES: Red Phalarope

Latin Etymology: Phalaropus ("coot foot") fulicarius ("black and white")

 Adult Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) at Hove, East Sussex - January 2014

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 55g  /  Length: 20-23cm  /  Wingspan: 43cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

The grey phalarope is a passage migrant that comes through the UK mainly in winter.  Although known as the grey phalarope in the UK, this is based on its Winter plumage which is the only time we see it here, and thus, in America, it is somewhat confusingly known as the red phalarope.  The three species of phalaropes form a strange group of birds - unlike most waders they are pelagic - and spend much of their lives far out to sea eating plankton from the surface of the ocean; they float on the surface of the water more like a gull or auk than a typical wader.  This particular bird had decided to settle on a paddling pool in a park in Brighton, and, with what I have heard is the typical boldness of the species, was entirely oblivious to humans who it would get within a few meters of it.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Phalaropus
Subspecies: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce passage migrant (around 200 birds)

 - A single bird seen at Rutland Water and a single bird at Hove in January 2014,

UNITED STATES 
Breeds on the North Coast of Alaska, passage elsewhere

 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .