New England Seabirds

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Breeds
Audubon' Shearwater is widespread in tropical oceans. In the Atlantic it breeds at the West Indies and Bahama Islands.

Behavior
Not attracted to ships and rarely attracted to chum or offal. (Olney 2007).

Where To See
Prefers warmer water so usually seen June through early September south of Cape Cod and more likely in one of the core of warm Gulf Stream water  frequently in the area. Sometimes identified from land on Cape Cod following high winds.

To look for this bird, take a continental shelf edge trip anytime during the summer.

Identification
In the New England area you need to separate Audubon's from the more numerous Manx Shearwaters.

Underwing shows wider dark margin than the similar Manx. . Notice more extensive dark undertail coverts. The face lacks the white "C" mark behind the eye. Another Mary Scott photo used with her permission. Nice picture Mary.

Wing tips more rounded. Beware of a bird just taking off from the water. Underwing has wider dark margins. Photographed by Mary Scott on FONT Barnegat Light trip September 2001. Feet do not project beyond tail.
	Scott Spangenberg photo of Audubon's Shearwater.  Note the lack of the white "C" mark behind the eye and the white lore in front of the eye. Area behind and in front of the eye is streaked.  Black cap extends down to the eye but not around or below. Feet do not trail behind the tail.  Trailing margins of under wing are wide. Wonderful photo Scott. Thanks for sharing.
Fine picture of the underside of a flying Audubon's Shearwater by Jeremiah Trimble on the August 2010 BBC Extreme Pelagic. Note the lack of the white "C" mark behind the eye, the broader dark margines to the trailing edge of the wing and the dark undertail coverts that extend above the origin of the legs.