Flesh-footed Shearwater

Overview
Flesh-footed Shearwater: Large, bulky shearwater with dark brown body, darker head and tail. Bill is large and pink with a dark tip. Wings are dark with brown-edged coverts that become paler with wear. Legs and feet are pale pink. Slow flight, alternates stiff-winged flapping and gliding near water.

Range and Habitat
Flesh-footed Shearwater: Breeds on islands off the coast of western Australia, on Lord Howe Island east of Australia, and in New Zealand. Summer visitor to the north Pacific and south to British Columbia; rarely as far south as California. Pelagic, comes ashore only to breed.

INTERESTING FACTS
In the non-breeding season, the Flesh-footed Shearwater inhabits the open ocean. It prefers to keep to warm waters, not commonly venturing as far north as many other shearwater species. They are closely related to Pink-footed Shearwaters, and some authorities consider them to be the same species. With the spread of introduced predators these birds survive best on islands without mammalian predators. A group of shearwaters are collectively known as an "improbability" of shearwaters.