Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Subantarctic Shearwater
Puffinus elegans
Subantarctic Shearwater (Puffinus elegans) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Subantarctic Shearwater (Puffinus elegans) 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 elegans
Where it lives
Tristan da Cunha and Gough (south-central Atlantic), Star Keys (Chatham Is., east of South I.) and Antipodes Is. (southeast of South I.; New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 226 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Subantarctic 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 Subantarctic Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Subantarctic Shearwater (Puffinus elegans) is a species of bird in the Procellariidae family, part of the order Procellariiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AO, PO, IO Tristan da Cunha and Gough (sc Atlantic), Star Keys (Chatham Is., e of South I.) and Antipodes Is. (se of South I.; New Zealand).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 226 g, with a wing length of about 18.4 cm and a tail of around 6.5 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 13.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Subantarctic Shearwater?
The Subantarctic Shearwater is a large bird that weighs around 226 g.
Where does the Subantarctic Shearwater live?
The Subantarctic Shearwater is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AO, PO, IO Tristan da Cunha and Gough (sc Atlantic), Star Keys (Chatham Is., e of South I.) and Antipodes Is. (se of South I.; New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Subantarctic Shearwater belong to?
The Subantarctic Shearwater (Puffinus elegans) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Subantarctic Shearwater eat?
The Subantarctic Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Subantarctic Shearwater migrate?
The Subantarctic Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Subantarctic 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 Subantarctic Shearwater's range?
The Subantarctic Shearwater has a mapped global range of about 13.9 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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