Bulwer’s Petrel

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)

Featured articles:

• Pelagic Bird Survey to the Horsburgh Lighthouse – 29 April 2017 (Trip Reports)
• First checklist revision for year 2017 (Revisions)

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

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

Bulwer’s Petrel at Madeira. Photo credit: John Oates

Bulwer’s Petrel at Madeira. Photo credit: John Oates