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3

Great Shearwater

(Ardenna gravis)
German name(s): "Grosser Sturmtaucher"
Size: 43-51 cm; wing span 0.95-1.22 m
Weight: 830 g (average)

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Great Shearwater at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Full-frontal view of a Great Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Frontal view of a Great Shearwater spreading its wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Great Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Near-frontal view of a preening Great Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Great Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Two lateral views of one and the same Great Shearwater taken within a second of each other, showing how their appearance can be affected by changing light conditions (photos courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Great Shearwater preparing for take-off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Great Shearwater preparing for take-off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Great Shearwater at take-off (1 of 2) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Great Shearwater at take-off (2 of 2) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Lateral/near-dorsal view of 2 Great Shearwaters (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Great Shearwater spreading its wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Great Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Lateral comparison of a Great Shearwater with a Sooty Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Great Shearwater in flight, with a view of its upperwings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Great Shearwater in flight, with a view of its underwings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Great Shearwater coming in to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Great Shearwater coming in to land, now with the landing gear extended (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

Overview of different species of shearwaters hunting in coastal waters off the south-western tip of Iberia
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Great Shearwater feeding at the water's surface (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2023]

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.

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