Photo: Don Faulkner / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Townsend’s Shearwater
Puffinus auricularis
Townsend's Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Townsend’s Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 351 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
- Genus Puffinus
- Species auricularis
Where it lives
Montane Socorro and Clarion is. (Revillagigedo Is., far west of central Mexico)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 351 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Townsend’s 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 Townsend’s Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Townsend’s Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO montane Socorro and Clarion is. (Revillagigedo Is., far w of c Mexico).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 351 g, with a wing length of about 22 cm and a tail of around 8.4 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Townsend’s Shearwater?
The Townsend’s Shearwater is a large bird that weighs around 351 g.
Where does the Townsend’s Shearwater live?
The Townsend’s Shearwater is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO montane Socorro and Clarion is. (Revillagigedo Is., far w of c Mexico), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Townsend’s Shearwater belong to?
The Townsend’s Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Townsend’s Shearwater eat?
The Townsend’s Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Townsend’s Shearwater migrate?
The Townsend’s Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Townsend’s Shearwater endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Townsend’s Shearwater make?
1 real field recording of the Townsend’s 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 Townsend’s Shearwater's range?
The Townsend’s Shearwater has a mapped global range of about 2.8 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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