|
|
|
Flesh-footed Shearwater
(Ardenna carneipes)
: "Fleshy-footed Shearwater", "Pale-footed Shearwater", "Lord Howe
Island Muttonbird"
Aboriginal name(s): "borroot" (S WA)
Size: 40-45 cm; wing span 1.0-1.5 m
Weight: 560-680 g
|
|
 |
Similar species |
|
 |
Physical description |
|
Click here for a physical description
Flesh-footed Shearwaters are medium-size seabirds with dark-brown
plumage. The tips
of their primaries are a bit lighter in colour than the rest of
the plumage, the
bill is greyish with a black top and tip, the legs and feet give
the species its name with their fleshy colour. The eyes are black.
|
 |
Taxonomy, classification |
|
See Flesh-footed
Shearwater at Wikipedia .
|
 |
Range, habitat, finding this species |
|
Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Flesh-footed Shearwater is available
HERE
.
For much of the year Flesh-footed Shearwaters populate the tropical
and subtropical Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean, but they are also
found farther North along the American West coast, up to Alaska.
They breed on
islands, including
Lord Howe Island, some off-shore off SA and off WA, and northern New
Zealand.
Flesh-footed Shearwaters can reach the coastal waters around the
Australian continent anywhere roughly South of the tropic of
Capricorn, from Fraser Island, QLD, in the East to Exmouth, WA, in
the West (but only rarely in the South-east, between the Hunter
River, NSW, and the VIC/SA border, including Tasmania). They can be
found on many off-shore
islands.
Flesh-footed Shearwaters spend much time out on the open seas and in coastal waters. They breed on
oceanic and some off-shore islands.
|
 |
Sightings |
|
Click here for sighting information
B. Hensen reports spotting Flesh-footed Shearwaters around Ned's
Beach, Lord Howe Island, in November 2014.
M. Eaton reports finding Flesh-footed Shearwaters 22 NM off Southport,
Gold Coast, QLD, in April 2018.
|
 |
Photos |
|
 |
ADULT |
|
Lateral view of a Flesh-footed Shearwater on its way to its nest
burrow at dusk (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lord Howe Island, November 2014]
Lateral view of a Flesh-footed Shearwater on water
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[22 NM off Southport, Gold Coast, QLD, April 2018]
Flesh-footed Shearwaters approaching the coastline of Lord Howe Island
in the afternoon (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Off Ned's Beach, Lord Howe Island, November 2014]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.