Latin name

Puffinus griseus

Family

Petrels and shearwaters (Procellariidae)

Overview

The sooty shearwater is a seabird, that is smaller than a herring gull. It is a large shearwater, with dark brown body and wings and long wings. Its bill is dark and when seen close up, there is a pale band along the underneath of the wings. It does not breed in the UK, but makes a huge clockwise migration up the western Atlantic in spring to spend the northern summer in the north Atlantic. Then in summer/autumn it moves down into UK waters on its return to the southern ocean to breed.

Where to see them

Best looked for from seawatching places in late summer and autumn.

When to see them

August-October.

What they eat

Fish, squid, crustaceans and offal from fishing boats.

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

1 illustration

Sooty shearwater

Similar birds

Manx shearwater

Great shearwater

Balearic shearwater