Ashy Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates homochroa
Medium-sized, dark-rumped storm-petrel with a long, deeply notched tail and grayish tones to the plumage. Usually flies fairly directly with light fluttering wingbeats; can be stronger in windy conditions. Look for pale stripe on underwing (not always obvious). Distinctive within limited range, exclusively off California and northern Baja. Rarely seen from land. Gathers in large flocks, often resting together on the water; can be mixed with other storm-petrel species.
Taxonomy
The ashy storm petrel was first described by American ornithologist Elliott Coues in 1864. Both its common and scientific name, homochroa, "uniformly colored", from Ancient Greek (h)omoia (όμοια), "alike" + "chroma" (χρώμα) "color", come from its coloration.<p>It was formerly defined in the genus Oceanodroma before that genus was synonymized with Hydrobates.
- Scientific name
- Hydrobates homochroa
- Authority
- (Coues, 1864)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Hydrobatidae
- Genus
- Hydrobates
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PO : islands of Van Damme Cove (Mendocino Co.); Bird Rock (Pt. Reyes), and Farallon Is. (w of c California); Channel Is. (w of s California); Coronado Is. and I. de Todos Santos (w of nw Baja California, nw Mexico)
- Non-breeding range
- coastal California Current to n California (including Monterey Bay) and nc Baja California (nw Mexico)
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-tailed Hawk
Geranoaetus albicaudatus
Strikingly patterned raptor, usually found in open grassy areas or agricultural fields with scattered bushes. Wings are long and pointed but broad at the base which makes the tail look relatively short. Adults are clean white below with gray upperparts and rufous patch on shoulder. Tail is white with black band near the tip. Young birds are darker with dark markings on the belly; especially note dark gray wings, pale grayish-brown tail, and wing shape. Hovers more frequently than other large raptors. Widespread in Central and South America; limited range in U.S.
Mindanao Heleia
Heleia goodfellowi
A fairly small bird of montane forest on Mindanao. Olive on the upperparts, darker in the wing and tail, with a blackish mask, dingy yellow underparts, and a pale gray throat. Usually found in mixed-species flocks with Cinnamon Ibon, Mountain White-eye, and Black-and-cinnamon Fantail. Similar to Yellow-bellied Whistler, but usually found at higher elevations, and has a thinner bill and dark mask. Gives a musical whistle and also a harsh grating call.
White-winged Cinclodes
Cinclodes atacamensis
Uncommon to fairly common in the high Andes, where usually outnumbered by similar but smaller Cream-winged Cinclodes. Favors streams and bogs with running water and also lakeshores. Generally less confiding than Cream-winged Cinclodes. Told from Cream-winged by brighter, rustier back and more contrasting white markings with broader wing stripe and big white tail corners as opposed to smaller buff tail corners on Cream-winged. Voice also quite different.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.