Habitat
Marine, in offshore and pelagic waters, in southern sub-tropical and sub-antarctic waters, only occasionally south of the Antarctic Convergence.
Brazil (NB), Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (B), France (P), Greenland (NB), Ireland (P), Portugal (P), Spain (P), St Helena (B), St Pierre and Miquelon (NB) (P), United Kingdom (P), USA (NB).
Breeds on southern Atlantic islands of Tristan da Cunha Group, Gough Island and Falkland Island, migrating to the North Atlantic in the non-breeding season.
Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis) [XC574747]
by Sven Normant from Atlantic Ocean off Hatteras NC, United States (call)
Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis) [XC833771]
by Stanislas Wroza from Baie d'Audierne, France (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds on southern Atlantic islands.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Nest
In a chamber at the end of a burrow.
Subspecies
It has been suggested that it interbreeds with Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes) and Pink-footed Shearwater (Ardenna creatopus) to form a circumpolar superspecies.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) which is less obviously capped and has paler bill plus more extensive dark area under the wing tip.
References
See References.
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
BirdLife International Species Factsheet