Widespread in the tropical Indian and Pacific ocaens. In Australia, breeds on numerous offshore islands south to Montague Island, NSW on the east coast to Carnac Island, WA in the west.
Nest
In a chamber at the end of a burrow, sparsely lined with grass andfeathers, in sand under roots, and crevices under rocks, creepers, and bushes, or in palm logs. In colonies.
Eggs (Guide)
1; dull, white, becoming stained; oval to ellipsoidal; about 63 x 41 mm. Incubation: about 50 days; by both sexes.
Young
Altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 70 days.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes) which is slightly larger, with a slightly bigger head, thicker neck and fuller body, with a much shorter, blunter wedge-shaped tail which can appear rounded at the tip when fanned.
Compare Images
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet