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Overview
Sooty Shearwater: Large shearwater with dark gray-brown body, darkest on tail and primaries. Underwing coverts are pale. Bill is long and dark. Legs and feet are black. Eats fish, squid and crustaceans. Long, narrow wings are slightly swept-back. Alternates strong direct flapping with long glides.
Range and Habitat
Sooty Shearwater: Breeds on islands off southern South America and New Zealand. Spends summers in north Pacific and north Atlantic. Pelagic, only comes ashore to breed.
Topo Map:
Gull-like Body
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"koo-wah, koo-wah, koo-wah"
Interesting Facts
A group of shearwaters are collectively known as an "improbability" of shearwaters.
Bird Term Glossary
Author
Gary Owen Dick
Related Birds
Northern Fulmar
Short-tailed Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Murphy's Petrel
Herald Petrel
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