Bulwer’s Petrel

This species is defined as a rarity. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Bulweria bulwerii
Malay Name: Tekukur-Laut Biasa
Chinese Name: 褐燕鹱

Range:
Breeds on small islands in the northern Atlantic and northern Pacific Oceans. The Pacific population disperses southwards outside the breeding season, reaching the tropical waters of Indian Ocean and adjacent seas.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 26-27cm

Identification:
Resembles Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrel but larger, with longer wings and distinctive long, graduated tail. Can be distinguished from similar looking Short-tailed Shearwater from its smaller size and the pale diagonal band across its upperwing-coverts.

Similar looking species: Short-tailed Shearwater, Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Habitat: Open seas

Behaviour/Ecology: Flight buoyant and usually close to the water surface.

Local Status: Rare passage migrant.

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)

Past accepted records in our database:

Past records, bar chart (see more bar charts):

Photos:

Bulwer’s Petrel at Madeira. Photo credit: John Oates
Bulwer’s Petrel at Madeira. Photo credit: John Oates
Bulwer’s Petrel at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Bulwer’s Petrel)

References:
BirdLife International. (2018). Bulweria bulwerii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22698132A132627626.en. Accessed on 19 December 2021

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.