Ainley’s Storm Petrel

Ainley’s Storm Petrel

Hydrobates cheimomnestes

Ainley’s Storm Petrel is a recent split from Leach’s Storm Petrel. Ainley’s breeds off Mexico, and one way they can potentially be discriminated from Leach’s is by the timing of the molt, since they breed at a different time of year. This bird was seen in May 2012, and based on the molt has tentatively been identified as an Ainley’s Storm Petrel.