Great Shearwater vs Boyd's Shearwater

Ardenna gravis compared with Puffinus boydi

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Great Shearwater Boyd's Shearwater
Scientific Name Ardenna gravis Puffinus boydi
Order Procellariiformes Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae Procellariidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Not Evaluated
Length
Wingspan 63.6 cm (25.0 in)
Weight 832.5 g (29.37 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 1
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Great Shearwater only

Boyd's Shearwater only

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Great Shearwater

Not Evaluated

Boyd'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.

Boyd's Shearwater

27 cm. Dark brown above; white below; white face with dark eye-patch. Breeds Cape Verde Islands. Ranges in tropical east Atlantic. Closely related to Barolo Shearwater; both formerly grouped in Little Shearwater complex. Near Threatened; feeds on small fish and squid.

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