Townsend’s Storm-Petrel
Oceanodroma socorroensis
Until 2016, this bird was believed to be a subspecies of the Leach’s Storm Petrel. Research showed variations in vocalization and DNA studies weighed in to justify a species split. Added to the list of species were the Townsend’s Storm-Petrel and the Ainley’s Storm-Petrel. Some taxonomists wish for more evidence to support the reclassification.
The two added species each share nesting locations only on a few islets at the southern end of Guadalupe Island, off of the northwestern coast of Mexico, but do so at different times of the year. Townsend’s occupy the site in late May to the end of June, fledging their young in late September and early October. Ainley’s Storm-Petrels breed from mid-November through December, with most nestlings fledging from early March through to mid-April.
Taxonomists regard both the new species (Ainley’s and Townsend’s Storm-Petrels) as monotypic (no subspecies).
Townsend’s Storm-Petrels are regularly sighted during pelagic birding tours off the coast of San Diego County, but all my meetings took place in Mexican waters during my 2017 voyage to the Revillagigedo Islands.
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Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
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Description: Five hours north-west of Isla Clarion. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:21 16:23 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 200 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X1466 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
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Description: More than 22 hours north-west of Isla Clarion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 9:45 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 440 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X1697 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
|
Description: More than 28 hours north-west of Isla Clarion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 15:16 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 320 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X1815 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
|
Description: More than 28 hours north-west of Isla Clarion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 15:16 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X1872 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
|
Description: More than 28 hours north-west of Isla Clarion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 16:01 |
|
Location:
Off Shore |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X1931 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
|
Description: More than 28 hours north-west of Isla Clarion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 16:01 |
|
Location:
Off Shore |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X1955 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
|
Description: More than 28 hours north-west of Isla Clarion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 16:01 |
|
Location:
Off Shore |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X1957 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
|
Description: More than 28 hours north-west of Isla Clarion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 16:32 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 460 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X2013 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
|
Description: More than 28 hours north-west of Isla Clarion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 17:04 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X2318 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
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Description: More than 28 hours north-west of Isla Calrion and more than halfway to Caba San Lucas. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:22 17:05 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X2394 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
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Description: Foraging five hours north-west of Isla Calrion. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:21 16:23 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 200 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X1473 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
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Description: On our passage from Isla Santa Margarita to Isla San Benedicto in the Archipielago de Revillagigedo, Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:13 14:40 |
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Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 450 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X6059 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Townsend's Storm Petrel(Oceanodroma socorroensis) |
|
Description: On our passage from Isla Santa Margarita to Isla San Benedicto in the Archipielago de Revillagigedo, Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:13 14:40 |
|
Location:
Off Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 450 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: TownsendsStormPetrel_D5X6057 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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