Revising the marine range of the endangered black-capped petrel Pterodroma hasitata: occurrence in the northern Gulf of Mexico and exposure to conservation threats

The black-capped petrel Pterodroma hasitata is an Endangered seabird endemic to the western North Atlantic. Although estimated at ~1000 breeding pairs, only ~100 nests have been located 2 sites in Haiti and 3 Dominican Republic. At sea, species primarily occupies waters of Gulf Stream Atlantic Caribbean Sea. Due limited data, there currently no consensus on geographic marine range although current proposed ranges include Mexico. Here, we report observations petrels during vessel-based survey efforts throughout northern Mexico from 2010-2011 2017-2019. During 558 d ~54700 km surveys, tallied 40 petrels. Most occurred eastern Gulf, birds were observed over much east-west north-south footprint area. Predictive models indicated that habitat suitability for was highest areas associated with dynamic Loop Current. We used extent occurrence area occupancy concepts delimit within Gulf. suggest be modified Mexico, recognizing distribution may more clumped southern remains unknown due a lack surveys there. To date, however, it unclear which nesting are linked