Sooty Shearwater

The Sooty Shearwater, Puffinus griseus, is a mediumlarge shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae.

This species breeds in the south Pacific. It is one of only two bird species, along with Great Shearwater to migrate from breeding grounds in the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, the normal pattern being the other way round.

This shearwater follows a circular route, around the north Pacific and north Atlantic. It is the most numerous shearwater in the former ocean. In the Atlantic, it moves up the eastern seaboard of North America, before crossing the Atlantic in August. It can be quite common off the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland before heading back south again.

This bird has the typically "shearing" flight of the genus, dipping from side to side on stiff wings with few wingbeats, the wingtips almost touching the water. Its flight is powerful and direct, with wings held stiff and straight, and gives the Impression of a very small albatross.

This shearwater is identifiable by its dark plumage. In poor viewing conditions it looks all black, but in good light it shows a silvery underwing pattern.

The Sooty Shearwater feeds on fish and squids. This is a gregarious species, which can be seen in large numbers from ships or appropriate headlands.

It breeds in huge colonies, nesting in burrows which are visited only at night to avoid predation by large gulls.