Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER from southeast AZ, USA / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Great Shearwater
Ardenna gravis
Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 849 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
- Genus Ardenna
- Species gravis
Where it lives
Kidney I. (Falkland Is.), Nightingale, Inaccessible and Gough (Tristan da Cunha group; south-central Atlantic Ocean)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 849 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Great Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Great Shearwater is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis) is a species of bird in the Procellariidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AO Kidney I. (Falkland Is.), Nightingale, Inaccessible and Gough (Tristan da Cunha group; sc Atlantic Ocean).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 849 g, with a wing length of about 31.8 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 63.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Great Shearwater?
The Great Shearwater is a large bird that weighs around 849 g.
Where does the Great Shearwater live?
The Great Shearwater is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AO Kidney I. (Falkland Is.), Nightingale, Inaccessible and Gough (Tristan da Cunha group; sc Atlantic Ocean), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Great Shearwater belong to?
The Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Great Shearwater eat?
The Great Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Great Shearwater migrate?
The Great Shearwater is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Great Shearwater endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Great Shearwater make?
1 real field recording of the Great Shearwater — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Great Shearwater's range?
The Great Shearwater has a mapped global range of about 63.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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