Western Bird Guide: Birds of the Rockies and West to the Pacific

by Charles K. Reed

BLACK PETREL.

107. Oceanodroma melania. 7½ inches.

These birds are sooty black all over, lacking the white rump of the two or three preceding. All of the Petrels have a very offensive musky odor, which is always noticeable about an island inhabited by them. The skins and eggs of the birds always retain this odor.

Nest.—Made in burrows similar to the others, but sometimes containing a small amount of nesting material; grass and roots.

Range.—Southern California southward to Mexico.

ASHY PETREL.

108. Oceanodroma homochroa. 7 inches.

This species breeds most abundantly on the Farallone Islands, sooty gray in color, their plumage matching their surroundings so closely that, unless one is looking for them, they will easily be overlooked.

They sit very close when nesting, and will even allow themselves to be removed from the nest by hand, so tame are they. They build in burrows or in any crevice of the rocks, laying their single white egg on the ground or rock without much, if any, lining to the nest.