Sooty Shearwater (us-RGV)
From WikiBird
Contents |
Regional Information
Range, Abundance, and Seasonal Variations
Directions and Maps
General Information
Size
Length: 40-50cm (15-20in), Wingspan: 95-110cm (37-43in)
Field Marks
Dark plumage. In poor viewing conditions it looks all black, but in good light it shows as dark chocolate-brown a silvery strip along the centre of the underwing. Its flight is powerful and direct, with wings held stiff and straight, giving the impression of a very small albatross.
Similar species
Sounds
Feeding & Behavior
Habitat & Nesting
Feeds on fish and squid. They can dive up to 60m (200ft) deep for food, but more commonly take surface food, in particular often following whales to catch fish disturbed by them. They will also follow fishing boats to take fish scraps thrown overboard. Breeds in huge colonies, nesting in burrows which are visited only at night to avoid predation by large gulls.
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Range
Breed on small islands in the south Pacific and south Atlantic Oceans, mainly around New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego. Following a circular route, travelling north up the western side of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans at the end of the nesting season in March-May, reaching subarctic waters in June-July where they cross from west to east, then returning south down the eastern side of the oceans in September-October, reaching to the breeding colonies in November.
Resources
