Breeds at islands around New Zealand, disperses to seas off the southern and eastern coasts of Australia from about Fremantle, WA in the west, north to about Fraser Island, Qld.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 100,000 (2010).
Status LC
Predation by introduced mammals has been the main threat but inshore set netting and over-harvesting of inshore fish are potential threats.
Fluttering Shearwater (Puffinus gavia) [XC288032]
by Dan Lane from Otaki, Marlborough District, Marlborough, New Zealand (song)
Fluttering Shearwater (Puffinus gavia) [XC293335]
by Nathan El from Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds only in New Zealand, around North Island (August - March).
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Nest
In a chamber at the end of a burrow, lined with a few leaves. Usually in colonies.
Eggs (Guide)
1; white; long-oval; about 57 x 40 mm. Incubation: by both sexes.
Young
Fed by both parents by incomplete regurgitation.
Subspecies
Sometimes considered subspecies of Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus). Until quite recently included Hutton's Shearwater (Puffinus huttoni).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Hutton's Shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) which is almost identical but is larger and has a darker wing-pit triangle with white restricted to a small diffuse patch in the center, greyish-brown streaking on the lesser primary coverts and grey greater coverts.
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