Great Shearwater Photo Gallery
Large shearwater with a prominent white collar and a well-defined dark cap. At close range, also note the bird’s scaly dark upperwings and back, and the narrow white band at the base of the tail.
© Derek Rogers / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 17, 2016Immature birds and adults in late fall and winter lack a white collar, but otherwise show the same color pattern as other Great Shearwaters on the water—dark head, upperparts, and undertail contrasting with a white chin, throat, and breast. All ages have a long, black bill with a hooked tip.
© Oscar Johnson / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, September 10, 2016In flight, the underwings and underparts are mostly white, with irregular brown marks on the wings and belly.
© Jonathan Eckerson / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 24, 2016On the underwing, the wingtips and trailing edges are dark; the white “armpits” show a variable amount of brown.
© Drew Weber / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 17, 2016Often rests on water in groups. Birds on the water show a strong black-and-white contrast.
© Drew Weber / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 17, 2016Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Shearwaters and Petrels(Order: Procellariiformes, Family: Procellariidae)
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