Key information
The sooty shearwater is a seabird which is smaller than a herring gull. It is a large shearwater, with dark brown body and long brown 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 they move down into UK waters on their return to the southern ocean to breed.
What they eat:
Fish, squid, crustaceans and offal from fishing boats.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 40-51 cm
- Wingspan:
- 94-109 cm
- Weight:
- 650-950g
Identifying features:
Sooty shearwater
