Habitat
Marine, pelagic in sub-tropical, sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters, migrating to the northern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in the non-breeding season.
Antarctica (NB), Australia (B), Brazil (NB), Chile (B), Denmark (P), Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (B), France (P), Greenland (NB), Ireland (P), Israel (NB) (P), Jordan (P), Marshall Islands (NB), Mexico, New Zealand (B), Portugal (P), Spain (P), St Pierre and Miquelon (NB) (P), United Kingdom (P), USA (NB).
Vagrant to Algeria, American Samoa, Barbados, Belgium, Cape Verde, China (mainland), Cuba, Egypt, Finland, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia (Asian), Sâo Tomé e Principe (NB), Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Lucia, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Taiwan (China), Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Virgin Islands (U.S.).
Breeds at islands near New Zealand and in South America, migrating to the North Pacific and North Atlantic Ocens. Fairly common off south-eastern Australia, breeding locally on offshore islands in New South Wales and Tasmania.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 20,000,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Food
Planktonic crustaceans, molluscs, fish, squid, offal and carrion.
Voice
Generally silent in its European habitat and at sea. A loud, rhythmically repeated, 'der-rer-ah' or a higher-pitched 'coo-roo-ah'. Soft crooning uttered in burrows during the day. Occasion calls in flight over breeding colonies. Highly vocal on the ground or in burrows.
Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea) [XC198149]
by sjonnoh from Rakiura National Park (near Stewart Island), Southland District, Southland, New Zealand (call)
Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea) [XC537874]
by from Mangere Island, Chatham Islands, New Zealand (call)
Nest
In a chamber at the end of a burrow, roughly constructed of leaves, twigs, seedlings, grass and leaf-litter. In colonies.
Eggs (Guide)
1; white; long-oval; about 77 x 48 mm. Incubation: about 58 - 60 days; both sexes in 8 - 14 day shifts. No replacement laying if egg is destroyed.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in 97 days. They remain at the mouths of their burrows for several days before leaving.
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