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Medium-sized, dark brown shearwater with silvery flashes on underwings.
Vulnerable
Indigenous: Sombre Petrel, King Mutton-Bird, Ghost Bird, Mutton-Bird, Sombre Shearwater
At a glance
FamilyShearwaters and Petrels
SizeLarge
RarityUncommon
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from October to November.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by David Boyle
Range map
Range map
506visible hotspots
4012visible records
4states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Narrow wings with quick, deep wingbeats. Can be in massive flocks. Extremely similar to Short-tailed Shearwater, but Sooty is heavier and has straighter wings; also look for slightly longer bill and less rounded head. Brown plumage is reminiscent of Flesh-footed Shearwater, but Sooty is narrower-winged and has a smaller, all-dark bill.
Behavior
Medium-sized, dark brown shearwater with silvery flashes on underwings. Widespread and common, especially in the Pacific; can sometimes be seen close to shore.
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