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Fluttering Shearwater
(Puffinus gavia)
: "Brown-beaked Petrel", "Forster's Shearwater"
Size: 33-37 cm; wing span 75-77 cm
Weight: 285-330 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Fluttering Shearwaters are small shearwaters with a
nearly homogeneously dark brown-grey upperside, with thin,
slightly lighter-shaded grey-brown edges on both flight
feathers and coverts and conspicuous "saddle bags" (white
flank patches visible behind the wings). Except for a
diffuse dark side of the neck, the underparts of the body
are white.
The underwings have a thin dark leading edge and a broad
dark trailing edge with black wing tips. The primary
coverts and the central parts of the underwings are white.
The legs and feet are well hidden and the tips of the toes
do not project beyond the rounded tip of the tail.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See
Fluttering Shearwater at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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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
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The global distribution of the Fluttering Shearwater is available
HERE
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Fluttering Shearwaters are found in waters around eastern
and southern Australia and New Zealand and in the Solomon
Islands. They breed on the North Island of New Zealand and
along the adjacent Cook Strait.
Fluttering Shearwaters are non-breeding migrants to Australia.
They reach the coastline of the Australian mainland mostly in an
area spanning from Fraser Island, QLD (sometimes extending farther
northward into the Coral Sea), to Eyre Peninsula, SA (sometimes to
the south-western tip of Australia in WA).
They are also present in waters all around Tasmania.
Fluttering Shearwaters are pelagic birds that spend part of
their time out on the open ocean, but are often found in coastal waters. They breed on
offshore islands.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
M. Roderick reports spotting Fluttering Shearwaters
12 NM off Swansea, NSW, in July 2012.
All photographic and sighting information presented
on this page has kindly been contributed by M. Roderick.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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Near-lateral view of a Fluttering Shearwater in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[12 NM off Swansea, NSW, July 2012]
Part of a small flock of Fluttering Shearwaters in flight;
click on image to see more birds
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[12 NM off Swansea, NSW, July 2012]
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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
