Short-tailed Shearwater

Scientific Name: Ardenna tenuirostris
Malay Name: Itik-itik Ekor Pendek Pasifik
Chinese Name: 短尾鹱
Alternative Name(s): Muttonbird

Range:
Breeds in SE Australia and wanders north into the Pacific Ocean outside breeding season

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 41-43 cm

Identification:
Overall dark sooty-brown plumage with pale chin, slightly paler breast and belly, prominent whitish area at the centre of underwing and toes extend beyond tip of short tail when in flight.

Similar looking species: Bulwer’s Petrel, Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Habitat: Open seas

Behaviour/Ecology: Flight direct, consisting of a flapping rise followed by a long downward glide.

Local Status: Rare passage migrant.

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)

Past accepted records in our database: Showing the most recent 10 records. See more on our database page.

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

Photos:

Short-tailed Shearwater at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Short-tailed Shearwater at Tanjung Dawai. Photo Credit: Neoh Hor Kee

Short-tailed Shearwater at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Goh Cheng Teng

Short-tailed Shearwater at Straits of Singapore. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Short-tailed Shearwater at Straits of Singapore. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai

Short-tailed Shearwaters at Straits of Singapore. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai

Short-tailed Shearwater at Tanjung Dawai. Photo Credit: Neoh Hor Kee

Short-tailed Shearwater at Tanjung Dawai. Photo Credit: Neoh Hor Kee

Short-tailed Shearwater at Tanjung Dawai. Photo Credit: Neoh Hor Kee

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 (Short-tailed Shearwater)

References:
BirdLife International. (2018). Ardenna tenuirostris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22698216A132635686.en. Accessed on 19 December 2021

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