Great Shearwater vs Short-tailed Shearwater
Ardenna gravis compared with Ardenna tenuirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Short-tailed Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Ardenna tenuirostris |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 52.4 cm (20.6 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 695.0 g (24.52 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Short-tailed 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.
Short-tailed Shearwater
41–43 cm, wingspan 95–100 cm. Sooty-brown; silvery underwing flash. Breeds Bass Strait islands (Australia) in enormous numbers; one of the world's most abundant seabirds. Migrates to North Pacific in vast flocks. Feeds on krill and fish. Harvested sustainably as 'muttonbirds' in Tasmania.