General

Streaked Shearwater: A large shearwater with scaled, dark gray-brown upperparts and white underparts. Its pale feather fringes give it a scaly appearance on the mantle, scapulars, rump and uppertail coverts. Uppertail coverts are sometimes white, forming a pale horseshoe. White head has variable light to heavy pale brown streaks. Predominately white around eyes and on forehead and foreface; dark markings are larger on rear head and are more solidly dark on nape. Bill is rather large and pale. Legs and feet are pink. Sexes and juveniles are similar.

Range and Habitat

Streaked Shearwater: This species breeds in large numbers in Japan and the islands off of Japan's southern coast. After breeding, they migrate toward Australia. In the autumn, they may be seen in Hawaii and, occasionally, off the coast of northern and central California. These birds are pelagic, coming ashore only to breed.

Breeding and Nesting

Streaked Shearwater: One white egg is laid in a burrow. Incubation ranges from 47 to 58 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Streaked Shearwater: These shearwaters feed mainly on small fish and squid. They plunge dive in shallow water for food or swoop down to snatch prey from the water surface. They often associate with other seabirds. They have been known to follow fishing boats, attracted to anchovy crawls off Japan.

Vocalization

Streaked Shearwater: Silent at sea. Loud and frequently vocal in nesting colonies.

Similar Species

Streaked Shearwater: Wedge-tailed Shearwater has paler nape, shorter bill, and paler underparts.