About the Sargasso Shearwater
The Sargasso shearwater is a small tropical seabird in the petrel family. The only shearwater to nest primarily in the Caribbean, it ranges throughout the western Atlantic during the non-breeding season. Its specific epithet honours the French naturalist Félix Louis L'Herminier.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The Sargasso shearwater is on average 30 cm (12 in) in length—about half the size of the great shearwater (Puffinus gravis)—and weigh 170 g. There is some variation between populations, and the normal size and weight range is 30–33 cm (12–13 in) and 150–230 g (5.3–8.1 oz). The wingspan is 64 to 72 centimetres (25 to 28 in), the tail is around 8.5 centimetres (3.3 in) long, the exposed culmen measures 3 centimetres (1.2 in) or slightly less, and the tarsus is around 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in length.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, Costa Rica, Australia, Ecuador, Brazil, Honduras, Belize, Dominica, Spain, French Polynesia, Mayotte, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis.
When to see it
Peak activity in August · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Fluttering ShearwaterPuffinus gaviaThis is a medium to small-sized shearwater with a dark-brown-and-white body.
Mediterranean ShearwaterPuffinus yelkouanThe yelkouan shearwaters is 30–35 cm (12–14 in) in length and has a wingspan of 70–84 cm (28–33 in).
Galapagos ShearwaterPuffinus subalarisThe Galápagos shearwater has dark brown upperparts, undertail and underwing flight feathers, the rest of the underparts plumage being white.
Learn the Sargasso Shearwater for real
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