Sooty Shearwater

Puffinus griseusOrder: PROCELLARIIFORMESFamily: Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)

Breeding Location:

Islands, sandy or rocky, Islands, grassy



Breeding Type:

Colonial



Breeding Population:

Abundant



Egg Color:

White



Number of Eggs:

1



Incubation Days:

52 - 56



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Lined with grasses or leaves.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Sooty Shearwater: Large shearwater with dark gray-brown body, darkest on tail and primaries. Underwing coverts are pale. Bill is long and dark. Legs and feet are black. Eats fish, squid and crustaceans. Long, narrow wings are slightly swept-back. Alternates strong direct flapping with long glides.

Range and Habitat

Sooty Shearwater: Breeds on islands off southern South America and New Zealand. Spends summers in north Pacific and north Atlantic. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Sooty Shearwater: One white egg is laid in burrow lined with leaves and grass. Incubation ranges from 52 to 56 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Sooty Shearwater: Feeds on fish, squid, crustaceans, and offal from fishing boats; forages by making short plunge dives.

Readily Eats

Vocalization

Sooty Shearwater: Makes inhaled and exhaled "koo-wah, koo-wah, koo-wah" notes on breeding grounds; usually silent at sea.

Similar Species

Sooty Shearwater: Short-tailed Shearwater is smaller and has a steeper forehead. Flesh-footed Shearwater has pink legs and bill.

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Family Shearwater (Procellariidae)_blue
Species Puffinus griseus
Length18 - 20 Inches
Wingspan40 Inches

Sooty Shearwater

Sooty Shearwater: Large shearwater with dark gray-brown body, darkest on tail and primaries. Underwing coverts are pale. Bill is long and dark. Legs and feet are black. Eats fish, squid and crustaceans. Long, narrow wings are slightly swept-back. Alternates strong direct flapping with long glides.

● Song: "koo-wah, koo-wah, koo-wah"

● Foraging & Feeding: Sooty Shearwater: Feeds on fish, squid, crustaceans, and offal from fishing boats; forages by making short plunge dives.

● Breeding & nesting: Sooty Shearwater: One white egg is laid in burrow lined with leaves and grass. Incubation ranges from 52 to 56 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Sooty Shearwater: Short-tailed Shearwater is smaller and has a steeper forehead. Flesh-footed Shearwater has pink legs and bill.

Flight Pattern

Alternates between strong flapping flight and gliding.
Sooty Shearwater Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Sooty Shearwater: Breeds on islands off southern South America and New Zealand. Spends summers in north Pacific and north Atlantic. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.
BreedingColonial
PopulationAbundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight28.8 Ounces