Great Shearwater vs Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna gravis compared with Ardenna grisea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Sooty Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Ardenna grisea |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 59.1 cm (23.3 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 814.0 g (28.71 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Near Threatened
Sooty Shearwater
About These Birds
Great Shearwater
43–51 cm, wingspan 105–122 cm. Large; dark brown above with white underparts, dark cap, and distinctive scaly pattern on upperwing. Breeds Tristan da Cunha, Gough, and Falklands; migrates to North Atlantic. Feeds on fish and squid; spectacular post-breeding migration past UK coasts.
Sooty Shearwater
40–51 cm, wingspan 94–110 cm. All dark sooty-brown with silvery-white underwing flash. Breeds New Zealand and southern South America; undertakes one of the longest migrations of any animal to North Pacific and Atlantic. Feeds on fish, squid, and krill. Near Threatened; millions estimated.