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!

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).

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