Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Ardenna pacifica
At a Glance
Widespread in the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, this seabird is a very rare visitor to our west coast. Underparts may be either light or dark; both color forms have reached California. The long, wedge-shaped tail makes this shearwater more graceful and maneuverable than many of its relatives.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Gull-like Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Open Ocean
Behavior
Swimming
Population
3.500.000
Range & Identification
Description
16" A long-winged, long-tailed shearwater, often flying with slow, lazy wingbeats. Has two color morphs, either all dark or dark with white underparts and wing-linings.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Wing Shape
Long
Tail Shape
Pointed, Rounded, Wedge-shaped
Songs and Calls
Generally silent at sea. Courting birds emit a variety of rising and falling moaning and wheezing sounds. The wailing sound made by these birds at their burrows at night inspired the Hawaiian name, ‘Ua‘u kani, which means "moaning petrel." Their call is sometimes likened to a crying child.
Call Pattern
Falling, Rising
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