Hutton's Shearwater
Puffinus huttoni
The Hutton's Shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) is a rare petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrel found in 2 countries, weighing about 364 g. Hutton's shearwater is a medium-sized ocean-going seabird in the family Procellariidae.
About the Hutton's Shearwater
Hutton's shearwater is a medium-sized ocean-going seabird in the family Procellariidae. Its range is Australian and New Zealand waters, but it breeds only in mainland New Zealand. Its conservation status is Endangered, because there are just two remaining breeding colonies, located in the Seaward Kaikōura Range. Six other shearwater colonies have been destroyed by introduced pigs. Hutton's shearwater is the only seabird in the world that is known to breed in alpine areas. Conservation measures for the bird include predator control at the breeding sites, establishing the Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary, and community initiatives to rescue birds that crash-land at night on streets in Kaikōura. A…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The bird's name commemorates Frederick Hutton, a former curator of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand. A medium-sized (350 g) seabird, with a 75 cm wingspan, it is brown with a white underbelly and brown collar, dark borders to the underwing, dark grey bill, and pinkish dark-webbed feet. It can be distinguished from the fluttering shearwater by its dark grey "armpits". At a breeding colony it has a loud cackling call.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Hutton's Shearwater?
- The bird's name commemorates Frederick Hutton, a former curator of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Hutton's Shearwater?
- The Hutton's Shearwater is a large sized bird weighing about 364 g.
- Where can you see a Hutton's Shearwater?
- The Hutton's Shearwater occurs in 2 countries, including New Zealand and Australia.
- What birds look similar to a Hutton's Shearwater?
- The Hutton's Shearwater is most easily confused with the Tropical Shearwater, the Galapagos Shearwater and the Mediterranean Shearwater.
- Is the Hutton's Shearwater endangered?
- The Hutton's Shearwater is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Hutton's Shearwater for real
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