Wedge-tailed Shearwater vs Balearic Shearwater
Ardenna pacifica compared with Puffinus mauretanicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wedge-tailed Shearwater | Balearic Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna pacifica | Puffinus mauretanicus |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 59.4 cm (23.4 in) | 48.4 cm (19.1 in) |
| Weight | 435.0 g (15.34 oz) | 514.8 g (18.16 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Wedge-tailed Shearwater only
Balearic Shearwater only
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Critically Endangered
Balearic Shearwater
About These Birds
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
38–46 cm, wingspan 97–105 cm. Long wedge-shaped tail diagnostic; dark brown above; polymorphic below (dark or white-breasted). Breeds tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean islands. Ranges widely at sea. Feeds on fish and squid; often associates with tuna. Common and widespread.
Balearic Shearwater
30–38 cm. Brown above; variably dirty-white to brown below; often shows brown smudging on flanks. Breeds only Balearic Islands, Spain. Critically Endangered with fewer than 3,000 pairs; faces extinction. Migrates to NE Atlantic; threatened by predators, fishing bycatch, and tourist development.