Bulwer’s Petrel

This species is defined as a Review Species . 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: Vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Records currently under review are also not displayed. For a full list, click here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

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 1 January 2023

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.