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MarineCavity nestLarge · 407 g
ID tip
Adults birds are 46–47 cm (18–19 in) in length, with a 97–99 cm (38–39 in) wingspan, and have been recorded to weigh 342–425 g (12.1–15.0 oz). The upperside of Buller's shearwater is bluish grey. A blackish stripe runs from the tertiary remiges to the primary wing coverts. The primary remiges are blackish, also; the two black areas do not meet at the hand, however; the area between them is a rather light grey, and under bright light may appear almost white. With the bird facing upwards, the pattern gives the impression of a broken black "M", with light grey interspersing areas.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Buller's Shearwater
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is September, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Buller's Shearwater
The map shades 8 countries with regular records, and 8 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Russia, Samoa, Wallis & Futuna, Cook Islands, Tonga.
About the Buller's Shearwater
Buller's shearwater is a Pacific species of seabird in the family Procellariidae; it is also known as the grey-backed shearwater or New Zealand shearwater. A member of the black-billed wedge-tailed Thyellodroma group, among the larger shearwaters of the genus Ardenna, it forms a superspecies with the wedge-tailed shearwater.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Flesh-footed ShearwaterArdenna carneipesThe flesh-footed shearwater is a medium-large shearwater that mainly inhabits the Indo-Pacific.
Short-tailed ShearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisThe short-tailed shearwater or slender-billed shearwater, also called yolla or moonbird, and commonly known as the muttonbird both in early Australia and in New Zealand, is the most abundant seabird species in Australian waters, and is one of the few Australian native birds in which the chicks are commercially harvested.
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisThis shearwater is 43–51 cm (16.9–20.1 in) in length with a 105–122 cm (3.5–4.0 ft) wingspan.
Side by side: Buller's Shearwater vs Great Shearwater
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