Great Shearwater vs Tropical Shearwater
Ardenna gravis compared with Puffinus bailloni
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Tropical Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Puffinus bailloni |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 37.0 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 212.0 g (7.48 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Tropical 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.
Tropical Shearwater
27–31 cm. Small; dark brown above; white below. Breeds islands of Indian Ocean and west Pacific. Several subspecies sometimes treated as separate species. Feeds on fish and squid; nocturnal at breeding colonies. Part of the Audubon's Shearwater species complex.