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3

Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) Alternate name(s): "Allied Shearwater", "Dusky Shearwater" Size: 25-30 cm; wing span 58-67 cm Weight: 220-260 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Little Shearwaters are amongst the smallest shearwaters. Their distinctive feature is, apart from dark edge lining on the underwings, an entirely unmarked white underside. The sides of the head are also white, with only faint spots in front of and behind the eyes, making the dark eyes prominently visible. The upperside is almost entirely dark-grey, with very fine white ends to the wing coverts. The rounded wing tips are also a diagnostic feature. The legs and feet, which do not protrude beyond the end of the wedge-shaped tip of the tail, are well-hidden in the undertail coverts in flight.

Taxonomy, classification See Little 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 Little Shearwater is available HERE . There are four races of Little Shearwaters, which are found all around the southern oceans, roughly southward of the tropic of Capricorn. Races "kermadecensis" (the "Kermadec Little Shearwater") and "haurakiensis" (the "New Zealand Little Shearwater") do not reach Australian territory. Little Shearwaters, nominate race "assimilis", populates primarily the Tasman Sea and parts of the southern Pacific Ocean. They only rarely reach the coastline of the Australian mainland, in an area spanning from about Fraser Island, QLD, to the NSW/VIC border, and along southern and eastern Tasmania. Race "tunneyi" lives in the southern Indian Ocean. They reach the coastline of the Australian continent in an area from about Esperance, WA, in the South to Exmouth, WA, in the North-west, sometimes also up to Broome, WA (-10 deg, southern latitude). They are known to breed on islands off the coast of WA. Little Shearwaters are pelagic birds that spend most of their time out on the open ocean and in coastal waters. They breed on offshore islands.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "assimilis" M. Roderick reports spotting a Little Shearwater, nominate race "assimilis", 50 NM East of Lord Howe Island, in September 2008. All photographic and sighting information presented on this page has kindly been contributed by M. Roderick.

Photos

Race "assimilis"

This race is also called the "Tasman Sea Little Shearwater".

ADULT

Sex unknown

View of the underside of a Little Shearwater (photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[50 NM East of Lord Howe Island, September 2008]

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