Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Overview

Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) is a species of Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels (Procellariidae) in the order Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters. A dark seabird with a wedge-shaped tail, flying low over warm oceans; nests in burrows on tropical islands, calling loudly at night; feeds on fish and squid near the surface.

Scientific Classification

Genus: Ardenna; binomial: Ardenna pacifica; authority: (Gmelin, JF, 1789). Typical size: 40-46cm. Average lifespan: 15-25 years.

Distribution

Breeding range: the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Non-breeding range: to Arabian Sea coasts of nw Africa and e Malagasy region, s India and Bay of Bengal in tropical Indian Ocean; through seas of s and e Indonesian Arch.; in Pacific, to Tasmania and waters n of North I. (New Zealand) and to coastal waters of e North Pacific from s Baja California (nw Mexico) to s Panama.

Conservation Status

This taxon is listed as Extant (living) in the IOC World Bird List.

Remarks

Treated as monotypic; includes chlororhyncha (Brooke 2004).