Potential Pelagic Species

The following species have yet to be confirmed occurring in Alabama waters, but, due to nearby records, may be expected...one day! Who knows?! Maybe the next Alabama trip will record a species yet unknown for the Gulf of Mexico!

Species Latin Name
Yellow-nosed Albatross Diomedea chlororhynchos

Single records for FL Panhandle (Pranty) and LA, and two sightings for TX (TBRC).
Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata

Records for FL and two recent sightings off TX (TBRC).
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis

One TX record of a sick bird found in the surf (TBRC).
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus

Records for FL, LA, and TX.  Most recent were after hurricane Danny (1997) near Pensacola and a 1998 report from an offshore LA drilling platform.
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus

May be more rare in the gulf than previously thought.  Recently documented tropicbirds have all been Red-billed. 
Red-footed Booby Sula sula

FL panhandle (Pranty), LA, and TX.
Black Noddy Anous minutus

FL (Keys) and two records for TX (TBRC).
Razorbill Alca torda

One FL panhandle record (Duncan)
South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki

A couple tantalizing gulf reports.  Hurricane Katrina (2005) deposited one at Pickwick Dam, Tennessee, just west of north Alabama!  A 2007 record from north Georgia!
Long-billed Murrelet Brachyramphus perdix

Three (!) FL gulf coast records (Mlodinow).
Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus

One LA record (LOS).