Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna grisea
Visual Identification
Appearance
The Sooty Shearwater is a medium-sized seabird with dark brown-grey plumage above and lighter grey underparts. Its long, narrow wings and streamlined body are adaptations for efficient gliding over vast ocean distances.
Slight scaling is shown on the upper wings, and a wide white bar is visible on the underside of the wings, which are narrow and pointed.
Both sexes look alike, with a slender, dark bill and black legs and feet, which are dull pink to grey. Juveniles resemble adults but may have slightly paler underwings.
Size
Length
40cm to 51cm
Wingspan
95cm to 110cm
Weight
650g to 1000g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Brown Grey
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
Grey
Leg Colour
Black
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Sooty Shearwaters have a vast range, breeding on islands in the Southern Hemisphere and migrating to the North Pacific and North Atlantic. They nest in burrows on coastal cliffs and forested slopes of offshore islands.
During non-breeding seasons, they are found across open oceans worldwide. They can be observed off the coasts of New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and both coasts of North America.
Elevation Range
Sea level to 1,500 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subpolar, Polar
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Sooty Shearwater. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!
Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Sooty Shearwaters display remarkable agility, with their streamlined bodies and long, narrow wings perfectly adapted for efficient gliding and manoeuvring over vast ocean distances. Their ability to dive to depths of over 60 metres and 'fly' underwater further demonstrates their exceptional agility in both air and water.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
While not the strongest seabirds, Sooty Shearwaters possess considerable strength to endure long-distance migrations, dive to significant depths, and withstand harsh oceanic conditions. Their ability to carry out annual migrations of up to 64,000 km indicates a robust physical constitution.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
These birds show high adaptability, thriving in various marine environments from polar to temperate zones. Their capacity to navigate vast oceans, exploit different food sources (including scavenging behind fishing vessels), and breed on diverse island habitats demonstrates their exceptional adaptability.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Sooty Shearwaters are not particularly aggressive birds. They tend to form large, peaceful flocks at sea. However, they may display some aggression when defending nesting burrows or competing for food, which accounts for this moderate score.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
The endurance of Sooty Shearwaters is truly exceptional. Their annual migration of up to 64,000 km (around 39,700 miles) is one of the longest recorded for any bird species. Combined with their ability to spend most of their lives at sea, diving regularly for food, and returning to breeding colonies year after year, their endurance is remarkable.
Diet
Sooty Shearwaters primarily feed on small fish, squid, and crustaceans.
They hunt by diving into the water, using their wings to 'fly' underwater and catch prey at depths of up to 68 meters. They also scavenge behind fishing vessels, taking advantage of discarded fish.
Behaviour
Sooty Shearwaters are renowned for their incredible long-distance migrations, covering up to 64,000 km (around 39,700 miles) annually. They are highly pelagic, spending most of their lives at sea and coming to land only to breed.
These birds are often seen in large flocks, skimming low over the waves in a distinctive, effortless flight pattern.
Vocalisation
At breeding colonies, Sooty Shearwaters produce a variety of vocalisations. Their most distinctive call is a cat-like wailing 'coooo-roo-oo' often heard at night, as well as from within their underground nesting burrows during incubation or nest defence.
They also make grunting and croaking sounds when interacting on the ground. At sea, they are generally silent.
Nesting & Breeding
Sooty Shearwaters form long-term pair bonds and return to the same breeding colonies each year. The breeding season begins in October in the Southern Hemisphere. Breeding grounds regularly host more than 2.5 million pairs each year, and colonies are established up to 1,500 m (5,000 ft) above sea level.
They nest in burrows dug into soil, reaching a length of up to 3 m, on coastal slopes or under vegetation. Females lay a single white egg, which both parents incubate for about 53 days.
Chicks fledge after 86-109 days, usually in April or May. Parents alternate between incubation shifts (between 4 and 9 days) and long foraging trips to sustain themselves and their chick.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
Sooty Shearwaters face threats from climate change, ocean pollution, and accidental bycatch in fishing gear.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding sites, reducing plastic pollution in oceans, and implementing seabird-friendly fishing practices to minimise bycatch incidents.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Sooty Shearwaters from coastal headlands during their migration periods
- Observe their characteristic low, gliding flight just above the waves
- Join pelagic birding trips for the best chances of close-up views
- In New Zealand, visit breeding colonies on offshore islands during the nesting season
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Tītī, Muttonbird
Family:
ProcellariidaeAverage Lifespan
18 to 20 years
Max Lifespan
34 years [4]
Predators
Main predators include large gulls, skuas, and introduced mammals such as rats, cats, and stoats at breeding colonies.
Did You Know?
- Sooty Shearwaters can dive to depths of over 60 meters to catch prey.
- They are known as 'muttonbirds' in New Zealand due to their historical use as a food source.
- Their annual migration of 64,000 km (around 39,700 miles) is one of the longest recorded for any bird species.
References
- 1
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Ardenna grisea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22698209A154440143.
View source - 2 3
report: Butcher and Niven 2007, Clucas et al. 2008, Scott et al. 2008
- 4
journalArticle, 2008: Buttemer et al., Fowl play and the price of petrel: long-living Procellariiformes have peroxidation-resistant membrane composition compared with short-living Galliformes, Biol Lett, 4:351-354
View source
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