Bird GuideShearwaters and PetrelsWedge-tailed Shearwater

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Ardenna pacifica
At a Glance Range & Identification Conservation Back to Top

At a Glance

Widespread in the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, the Wedge-tailed Shearwater is a very rare visitor to the west coast. Underparts may be either light or dark; both color forms have reached California. The long, wedge-shaped tail makes this shearwater more graceful and maneuverable than many of its relatives.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Gull-like Birds, Shearwaters and Petrels
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Open Ocean
Region
California
Behavior
Swimming
Population
3.500.000

Range & Identification

Description

Sexes similar — Length: 15-18 in (38-45 cm); wingspan: 3 ft 3 in-3 ft 9 in (1-1.1 m); weight: 1 lb 2 oz-1 lb 10 oz (510-750 g). The Wedge-tailed Shearwater is a long-winged, long-tailed shearwater, often flying with slow, lazy wingbeats. Has two color morphs, either all dark or dark with white underparts and wing-linings.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Color
Black, Gray, White
Wing Shape
Long
Tail Shape
Pointed, Rounded, Wedge-shaped

Songs and Calls

Generally silent at sea. Courting birds emit a variety of rising and falling moaning and wheezing sounds. The wailing sound made by these birds at their burrows at night inspired the Hawaiian name, ‘Ua‘u kani, which means "moaning petrel." Their call is sometimes likened to a crying child.
Call Pattern
Falling, Rising
Call Type
Honk, Hoot, Yodel

Conservation

Conservation Status

Change in Abundance Over Time
Drawing on more than a century of community science from the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), this chart shows how this species’ relative abundance has shifted in recent decades. Explore more and get involved in the CBC.