Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Shearwater
Puffinus assimilis
Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 226 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 Puffinus
- Species assimilis
Where it lives
South-central Indian Ocean, islets off southwestern, southern Australia and outlying islands of New Zealand
Quick facts
- Weight
- 226 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Little Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) is a species of bird in the Procellariidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO, PO sc Indian Ocean, islets off sw, s Australia and outlying islands of New Zealand.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 226 g, with a wing length of about 18 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 21.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Shearwater?
The Little Shearwater is a large bird that weighs around 226 g.
Where does the Little Shearwater live?
The Little Shearwater is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO, PO sc Indian Ocean, islets off sw, s Australia and outlying islands of New Zealand, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Little Shearwater belong to?
The Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Little Shearwater eat?
The Little Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Little Shearwater migrate?
The Little Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Little 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 Little Shearwater make?
1 real field recording of the Little 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 Little Shearwater's range?
The Little Shearwater has a mapped global range of about 21.7 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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