The Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) is an Australian bird or regular visitor that can be identified most reliably by combining shape, plumage, habitat and behaviour. A medium-large shearwater with long narrow wings and a noticeably wedge-shaped tail; both dark and pale colour morphs occur, complicating identification by colour alone. Adults are typically about 38–46 cm long, although posture, sex, age and plumage can affect how large an individual appears in the field.
How to identify a Wedge-tailed Shearwater
A medium-large shearwater with long narrow wings and a noticeably wedge-shaped tail; both dark and pale colour morphs occur, complicating identification by colour alone. Start with overall silhouette before focusing on colour. Check the bill, legs, tail, wing shape and any bold head or body pattern. Distance, shade, glare and strong Australian sunlight can change the apparent colour of feathers, so several matching features are more useful than a single mark.
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters glide on stiff wings just above the sea and may gather in feeding flocks over schooling fish. At colonies they are mainly active after dark. Behaviour can be one of the quickest ways to confirm an identification because closely related birds often feed, fly or perch differently even when their plumage looks similar.
Where is the Wedge-tailed Shearwater found in Australia?
Common in tropical and subtropical Australian seas, breeding on many offshore islands along the east, west and north-west coasts.
Typical habitat includes open ocean, continental shelf waters and offshore islands with sandy or soil-covered ground suitable for burrows. Distribution can shift with rainfall, drought, breeding conditions, migration, tides and local food supply, so an apparently unusual sighting should be checked against season as well as location.
What does the Wedge-tailed Shearwater eat?
Fish, squid and crustaceans captured at the surface or by shallow pursuit dives. Watching exactly how a bird feeds can provide another useful clue. Note whether it runs and pecks, probes mud, sweeps its bill, plunge-dives, surface-dips or catches food in flight. Feeding technique often separates species that share the same habitat.
Wild birds do not need processed human food. Protecting natural habitat, clean water and native food sources is usually a better way to support them than regular feeding.
Behaviour and calls
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters glide on stiff wings just above the sea and may gather in feeding flocks over schooling fish. At colonies they are mainly active after dark.
At breeding colonies they give eerie moaning and wailing calls from burrows, especially at night. Voice can be especially useful when distance, a crowded flock or low light makes visual identification difficult. Try to notice the rhythm and tone as well as a written approximation of the sound.
Nesting and breeding
Pairs nest in burrows on offshore islands, laying a single egg and returning from feeding trips at sea to care for the chick. Breeding timing varies according to latitude, climate and species. Many migratory shorebirds seen in Australia breed in the Northern Hemisphere, while resident terns and seabirds may nest on Australian beaches or offshore islands. If you find a nest or dependent young, observe from a respectful distance.
Similar birds
Short-tailed Shearwaters are usually darker with a shorter-looking tail and different breeding range, while Flesh-footed Shearwaters have a pale pinkish bill and feet.
When two species remain difficult to separate, compare photographs against multiple field marks rather than choosing on colour alone. Geographic range, voice, habitat and feeding style may be more decisive than one feather pattern.
Quick identification tip
Remember three things: its approximate size is 38–46 cm; its key visual clue is a medium-large shearwater with long narrow wings and a noticeably wedge-shaped tail; both dark and pale colour morphs occur, complicating identification by colour alone.; and a typical setting is open ocean, continental shelf waters and offshore islands with sandy or soil-covered ground suitable for burrows. Matching all three gives a much stronger identification than any one clue by itself.
Sources and further reading
For additional Australian bird information and conservation guidance, see BirdLife Australia bird profiles and the Australian Museum bird collection. Image licensing and creator information for this page is recorded from the linked Wikimedia Commons file page.
