Sooty Shearwater

Puffinus griseusOrder: PROCELLARIIFORMESFamily: Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)
Sooty Shearwater Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Hooked Seabird
  • Eye color: Brown iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown color: Gray
  • Forehead color: Black
  • Nape Color: Dark Brown
  • Throat color: Gray
  • Cere color:
Sooty Shearwater Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 45-50 cm (18-20 in)
  • Weight: 816 g (28.8 oz)
  • Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
  • Color: Brown, Gray, Buff
  • Underparts: Dark Brown
  • Upperparts: Dark Brown
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Sooty Shearwater Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Alternates between strong flapping flight and gliding.
  • Wingspan Range: 93-109 cm (37-43 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Dark Brown
  • Under Tail: Dark Brown
  • Leg color: Gray
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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