Great Shearwater Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesGreat Shearwater
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, 2016Similar SpeciesCory's Shearwater
Cory’s Shearwater keeps its wings slightly arched and flies with slower, “floppier” wingbeats than Great Shearwater. Cory’s large yellow bill is visible even at a medium distance.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryRegião Autónoma da Madeira, August 04, 2011Similar SpeciesCory's Shearwater
Cory’s Shearwater is larger than Great Shearwater with lighter brown upperparts and a large yellow bill. Cory’s is browner on the face and lacks a white collar, giving a hooded look (as opposed to Great Shearwater’s capped appearance).
© Toni Pons / Macaulay LibraryCanarias, June 08, 2022Similar SpeciesCory's Shearwater
In flight, Cory’s Shearwater is cleaner below, with the white belly and underwings lacking the brown marks found on Great Shearwater.
© Graham Deese / Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, May 14, 2022Similar SpeciesManx Shearwater
Manx Shearwater has a small white crescent behind the eye, but lacks Great Shearwater’s prominent white collar, capped appearance, and white at the base of the tail.
© Peter Flood / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 02, 2018Similar SpeciesManx Shearwater
Manx Shearwater is smaller than Great Shearwater and has white (as opposed to dark) undertail coverts.
© Blair Dudeck / Macaulay LibraryNewfoundland and Labrador, August 05, 2021Similar SpeciesManx Shearwater
In flight, Manx Shearwater is cleaner below, with the white belly and underwings lacking the brown marks found on Great Shearwater.
© Kate Sutherland / Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, February 07, 2022Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Shearwaters and Petrels(Order: Procellariiformes, Family: Procellariidae)
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