Greater Shearwater

Puffinus gravis

Order

PROCELLARIIFORMES

Family

Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae)

Code 4

GRSH

Code 6

PUFGRA

ITIS

Breeding Location:

Islands, sandy or rocky

Breeding Type:

Large colonies

Breeding Population:

Egg Color:

White

Number of Eggs:

Incubation Days:

Egg Incubator:

Both sexes

Nest Material:

No material added to nest.

Migration:

Migratory

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General

Greater Shearwater: Large shearwater with scaled, gray-brown upperparts, white underparts, and brown markings on belly. Dark cap contrasts with white face. Tail is dark above with conspicuous white rump band and gray below. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Greater Shearwater: Breeds on islands of Tristan de Cunha in South Atlantic. Spends May to early November as a nonbreeding visitor to the north Atlantic. Pelagic; only comes ashore to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Greater Shearwater: One white egg is laid in a burrow on a grassy slope. Eggs are incubated for 55 days by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Greater Shearwater: Feeds mainly on small fish and squid. Chases prey underwater by paddling its feet, with wings held partially opened.

Vocalization

Greater Shearwater: Gives a low nasal, squealing call when resting on water.

Similar Species

Greater Shearwater: Cory's Shearwater is slightly larger and has a yellow bill.

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden2.

Field Guide to Birds of North America