Bird Guide

Fluttering Shearwater

Puffinus gavia

Least ConcernInvertebratesMarineCavity nestMedium · 229 g

About the Fluttering Shearwater

The fluttering shearwater is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and migrates to Australia and the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores. It has been known as Forster's shearwater in the past.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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This is a medium to small-sized shearwater with a dark-brown-and-white body. The upper parts, including neck, wings and tail, are uniformly dark brown. The face and neck have a grey-brown colour gradually fading into white below the eye. The under body, from chin to the under-tail, is white except for a dark thigh patch that can be seen in flight. The bottom wing is commonly white while the axillary area is covered in grey-brown fur. Under light conditions, the appearance is different.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Fluttering Shearwater lives

Regular range

When to see the Fluttering Shearwater

Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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