2025 split
Fea's Petrel split: the Gulf Stream bird is Desertas Petrel
In 2025 eBird split Fea's Petrel in two. The rare petrel seen far off the US East Coast now counts as Desertas Petrel.
Updated
What changed
Nests on Bugio, one of the Desertas Islands near Madeira. A rare visitor to the Gulf Stream off eastern North America.
Nests in the Cape Verde Islands off West Africa. Not proven to have reached North America.
Who decided, and when
- AviList, the shared world checklist: agrees, with the same names
- eBird and the Clements Checklist: its 2025 taxonomy update
- American Birding Association (ABA): replaced Fea's Petrel with Desertas Petrel on the ABA Checklist; records of Cape Verde Petrel are still under review
Which one did you see?
At sea you can't, really: the two look nearly identical. The ABA counts the North American birds as Desertas Petrel and is still reviewing whether Cape Verde Petrel has ever reached North America.
What it does to your list
If you saw a Fea's Petrel off North America, it now counts as Desertas Petrel. Your total doesn't change.
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