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3

Sooty Shearwater

(Ardenna grisea)
Alternate name(s): "New Zealand Muttonbird", "Ghost Bird", "King Muttonbird", "Sombre Shearwater"
German name(s): "Dunkler Sturmtaucher"

Size: 40-51 cm; wing span 0.95-1.1 m
Weight: 650-980 g

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 Sooty 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

Near-lateral view of a Sooty Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Lateral view of a Sooty Shearwater landing on water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Lateral view of a Sooty Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral view of Sooty Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Sooty Shearwater landing on water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Sooty Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Dorsal view of a Sooty Shearwater (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[5 NM off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

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

Near-dorsal view of a Sooty Shearwater taking off (1 of 4) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Sooty Shearwater taking off (2 of 4) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Sooty Shearwater taking off (3 of 4) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Sooty Shearwater taking off (4 of 4) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Near-lateral view of Sooty Shearwater in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Near-lateral view of Sooty Shearwater in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Near-dorsal view of Sooty Shearwater in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Dorsal view of Sooty Shearwater in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Off Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

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]

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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