WatchList Species Account for Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis)

Qualifies for the list as a Rare Yellow List Species

Photo: © Bill Hubick

The Greater Shearwater is common in colder waters off the Atlantic Coast of North America and also off Western Europe. Foraging in flocks, it often turns up to feed around fishing boats, fighting over scraps and offal. Its normal mode of feeding is to plunge into the water from the air or to dive from the surface and capture food while swimming underwater, though it often takes items while swimming on the surface. It feeds during the day but apparently also at night. It breeds colonially in the South Atlantic, mainly on Gough Island and islands of the Tristan da Cunha group. It is active at the nest after dark. Its nest is in a burrow or crivce in the rocks. Its total population is estimated at over 5 million but may be increasing in numbers and even increasing in range. Tristan islanders take large numbers of adults and young every year from certain colonies, so the bird may be vulnerable because of its limited breeding range.