Wedge-tailed Shearwater
NameWedge-tailed Shearwater
Common NameWedge-tailed Shearwater
Scientific NameArdenna pacifica
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)103
Length (cm)42.5
Weight (g)400
Plumage DetailsThe most common plumage is uniformly dark sooty-brown to blackish, often appearing slightly paler on the underwing coverts. A less common pale morph exists, which is dark above and white below, but the bird in the image is clearly the dark morph.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations are typically heard at breeding colonies at night, consisting of eerie, wailing, cooing, and moaning calls, often described as 'oo-er-AH' or 'koo-koo-WAAH'.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, breeding on oceanic islands.
Identifying Featureslong slender wings, dark sooty-brown plumage, wedge-shaped tail, gliding flight, long, slender bill with hooked tip
Description
This pelagic seabird is characterized by its long, slender wings and graceful gliding flight over the open ocean. It typically has dark sooty-brown plumage and a distinctive wedge-shaped tail, which is most apparent when fanned. They spend most of their lives at sea, coming to oceanic islands only to breed.
