Photo: Joseph Smit / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Persian Shearwater
Puffinus persicus
Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 193 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 persicus
Where it lives
Breeds Khuriya Muriya Is. (south of Oman), Socotra and Moheli (=Mwali, Comoro Is.)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 193 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Persian Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Persian Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO breeds Khuriya Muriya Is. (s of Oman), Socotra and Moheli (=Mwali, Comoro Is.).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 193 g, with a wing length of about 19.6 cm and a tail of around 7.1 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 3.3 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Persian Shearwater?
The Persian Shearwater is a large bird that weighs around 193 g.
Where does the Persian Shearwater live?
The Persian Shearwater is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO breeds Khuriya Muriya Is. (s of Oman), Socotra and Moheli (=Mwali, Comoro Is.), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Persian Shearwater belong to?
The Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Persian Shearwater eat?
The Persian Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Persian Shearwater migrate?
The Persian Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Persian 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.
How large is the Persian Shearwater's range?
The Persian Shearwater has a mapped global range of about 3.3 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.
Explore more birds
More in Procellariidae
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Least Concern
More in Seabirds & Tubenoses
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern