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).