Great Shearwater vs Townsend's Shearwater
Ardenna gravis compared with Puffinus auricularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Townsend's Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Puffinus auricularis |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 324.0 g (11.43 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Critically Endangered
Townsend's 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.
Townsend's Shearwater
33–35 cm. Dark above; white below with dark vent and undertail. Breeds Revillagigedo Islands (Mexico); Critically Endangered with fewer than 1,000 pairs. Threatened by introduced cats and rats; strictly nocturnal at colonies. Ranges in eastern Pacific.