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Short-tailed Shearwaters are medium-sized seabirds with an overall dark-brown plumage. The only exception from this homogeneous colour is the possibility that some (not all) have grey or greyish-brown underwing coverts. The legs and feet are grey. Their tail is short, with the feet reaching the end of the tail or slightly beyond.

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 Short-tailed Shearwater is available HERE .

Short-tailed Shearwaters are a strongly migratory species. In the southern autumn, Short-tailed Shearwaters migrate northwards, from Australia/New Zealand to far-eastern Asia (in particular to Japan, Kamchatka and the Aleutian islands), from where they will depart again in the northern autumn, migrating southwards along the American West coast, crossing the Pacific Ocean towards Australia, New Zealand and the Southern Ocean in time for the next breeding season.

During the southern summer Short-tailed Shearwaters are usually found in Australian waters, along the south coast of WA, SA, VIC, NSW and along the east coast as far north as southern QLD. They are endemic breeders that nest mostly on offshore islands in Bass Strait and along the coastline of Tasmania.

Short-tailed Shearwaters are found on the open seas, coastal waters and, during their breeding season, on offshore islands.

We first spotted Short-tailed Shearwaters off headlands at both Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek NP, and Crescent Head, NSW, in October 2013.

B. Hensen reports spotting Short-tailed Shearwaters off Cape Banks, La Perouse, NSW, in November 2013.

At the time of the October/November 2013 sightings, they were seen hunting closer to shore than normal, providing photo opportunities from land. During the spring 2013 migration to their breeding grounds in the south, many thousands of Short-tailed Shearwaters did not make it and washed up on beaches. We thank B. Hensen and A. Richardson for their help with the identification of this species.

M. Eaton reports finding Short-tailed Shearwaters on a pelagic off Eaglehawk Neck, near Hobart, TAS, in September 2021.

C. Pears spotted Short-tailed Shearwaters a few km off Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, in January 2023.