Short-tailed Shearwater

1. Bird Name
The Short-tailed Shearwater, scientifically known as Puffinus tenuirostris, is a fascinating bird species.

2. Appearance
The Short-tailed Shearwater boasts a dark sooty-brown plumage all over its body. The underparts of the bird feature a pale grey extend down to the upper belly and undertail coverts. Its bill is moderately long and possesses a hooked tip for catching prey, while its eyes radiate a dark hue. Notably, there is no noticeable difference in appearance between males and females.

3. Size
On average, the Short-tailed Shearwater measures approximately 40 centimeters in length, or about 16 inches. It possesses a wingspan of 96 centimeters or roughly 38 inches, which is wonderful for long migration flights. These birds maintain a durable weight range of 400 to 600 grams.

4. Habitat & Distribution
Short-tailed Shearwaters are native to the Southern Hemisphere, with a distribution ranging from the central Pacific around the Bering Sea, down the coastline to Japan, and across the entire North Pacific. They can also be spotted off the coasts of Tasmania and South Australia. Their preferred habitats are marine environments, especially offshore waters, but they are also known to breed in burrows on sandy islands.

5. Interesting Facts
Remarkably, the Short-tailed Shearwater undertakes one of the longest known trans-equatorial migratory journeys. Every year, around 18 million of them travel from the breeding areas in Australia to feed in the northern Pacific off Japan, Alaska, and California. Another fun fact is that in certain parts of Tasmania, the Short-tailed Shearwater is traditionally harvested and known as ‘muttonbird’.

6. Diet
The Short-tailed Shearwater sustains its diet primarily on small fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are known to forage both on the water’s surface and underwater, capable of diving depths up to 70 meters to capture their prey.

7. Behavior & Sounds
Short-tailed Shearwaters are renowned for their synchronized arrival to their breeding colonies, usually at dusk, creating an enchanting sky spectacle. Their flight pattern is characterized by a series of rapid wing beats followed by long gliding phases. Their call is a guttural cackling sound, more frequently heard during the night in their breeding colonies.

8. Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List deems the Short-tailed Shearwater to be of “Least Concern”. Although they face some threats such as predation by introduced species, marine pollution, and overharvesting, their large and widespread population renders them fairly safe for now.

9. Lifespan
Under natural circumstances, the Short-tailed Shearwater, if it escapes predation and disease, can live for over a decade. In captivity, their life span has not been extensively studied.

10. Additional Notes
Besides being split into the names ‘Short-tailed Shearwater’ in English or ‘Puffinus tenuirostris’ in Latin, their Tasmanian epithet ‘muttonbird’ interestingly stems from their robust and fatty meat reminiscent of mutton. Humans predominantly interact with the species during the annual ‘muttonbird season’, where they are harvested. However, their role in the ecosystem is largely based on their high predation on small marine animals, thus keeping these populations in check while subsequently serving as prey for larger predators. Their underwing patterns also provide great opportunity for photographical aesthetic.