Great Shearwater vs Rapa Shearwater
Ardenna gravis compared with Puffinus myrtae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Rapa Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Puffinus myrtae |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 48.2 cm (19.0 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 237.5 g (8.38 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Critically Endangered
Rapa 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.
Rapa Shearwater
30–33 cm. Dark above; white below. Breeds Rapa Island (French Polynesia). Critically Endangered with a very small population on a single island. Poorly known; threatened by introduced predators. Ranges in central south Pacific; one of the rarest shearwaters.