MD Osprey:
There have been a number of reports recently of Sooty Shearwaters
(Puffinus griseus) at Ocean City.
Here's something to think about ... there is a sight record of the
very similar Pacific Ocean species, Short-tailed Shearwater (P.
tenuirostris), from Virginia in 1998 and a Short-tailed specimen was
collected in the Gulf of Mexico, about 25 miles off of Sanibel
Island, Florida in 2000.
Separation of Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters may be one of the
most difficult seabirds challenges off of the western US Pacific
Coast or in Alaska, where both occur. In flight, the two can be
especially problematic; underwing coloration can be tricky and may
not always be as useful as the literature suggests, especially given
age differences and worn plumages. Given close looks when flying or
when seen sitting on the water, bill shape and forehead shape are
probably more useful, but in flight these characteristics can also be
difficult to discern.
If you can't sleep at night, here are some good references on
separating the two species ...
http://aba.org/birding/v40n2p34.pdf
http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/07/can-short-tailed-shearwater-be-identified-in-the-field/
http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/book/id_sosh_stsh.htm
http://birdingfrontiers.com/2010/09/19/short-tailed-shearwater/
Here is the article on the Florida specimen ...
http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/NAB/v057n02/p00277-p00279.pdf
From a MD/DC Records Committee standpoint, Sooty Shearwaters are not
reviewable; however, Short-tailed are, as this would be a Maryland first.
Have fun ...
Phil
===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]
MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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