Where do flesh-footed Shearwater live?

Are shearwaters eaten?

Some Shearwaters are eaten by man, or used commercially. Thus Islanders in the Tristan da Cunha Islands take about 15,000 to 20,000 eggs from the nesting colonies of The Great Shearwater ( Puffinus gravis) every year. The population here is about 4 million birds however so this crop is sustainable.

What kind of seabirds live in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s seabirds include penguins, albatrosses, petrels, shags, prions, gannets and skuas. New Zealand has a wide variety of seabirds. Some species have huge populations – there are millions of sooty shearwaters (muttonbirds or tītī) living on the Snares Islands, south of Stewart Island.

How big is a Shearwater?

Sooty shearwaters are 40–51 cm (16–20 in) in length with a 94–110 cm (37–43 in) wingspan. It has the typical “shearing” flight of the genus, dipping from side to side on stiff wings with few wing beats, the wingtips almost touching the water.

What is a shearwater known for?

Species such as the Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters are also known for their open water, low altitude gliding and tilting mode of flight on straight wings, the tips of which often slice or “shear” through the water’s surface.

What is sooty shearwater?

The sooty shearwater is one of the seabird species most frequently observed killed in the New Zealand fisheries during 1996-2004, with demersal longliners and trawling operations responsible for the majority of mortalities.

What does a Sooty Shearwater bird look like?

The Sooty Shearwater is an entirely dark brown-grey bird, apart from a broad pale stripe down the centre of each underwing. It has a long slender bill, a slender head and a longish neck.

What seabirds live in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s seabirds include penguins, albatrosses, petrels, shags, prions, gannets and skuas. New Zealand has a wide variety of seabirds.

Are there any passerine birds in New Zealand?

Callaeidae (sometimes Callaeatidae) is a family of passerine birds endemic to New Zealand. It contains three genera, with five species in the family. One species, the huia, became extinct early in the 20th century, while the South Island kokako is critically endangered and may be extinct.

What are the Shorebirds of Aotearoa?

A guide to the shorebirds of Aotearoa/New Zealand (PDF, 1,372K) New Zealand is famous for its land birds like the kiwi and kākāpō. But just as remarkable and unique are the seabirds. More than a third of the 80 or so species of seabirds that breed in New Zealand are endemic, or found nowhere else. Albatrosses are the world’s largest seabirds.

What is killing the sooty shearwater?

The sooty shearwater is one of the seabird species most frequently observed killed in the New Zealand fisheries during 1996-2004, with demersal longliners and trawling operations responsible for the majority of mortalities.

How did the Shearwater get its name?

The lighter colour of the underbody varies between species. Shearwaters earned their name by their ability to cut – or shear – the water with their wings, although until recently they were known as ‘muttonbirds’. This name was given to them by early European settlers, who killed the birds for food and found that their flesh tasted like mutton.

What is the lifespan of Shearwater?

Shearwaters are long lived birds having a potential life span of at least 15 years in most species. Some Shearwaters are eaten by man, or used commercially. Thus Islanders in the Tristan da Cunha Islands take about 15,000 to 20,000 eggs from the nesting colonies of The Great Shearwater ( Puffinus gravis) every year.

What is the size of a Manx shearwater?

The Manx Shearwater measures around 30 – 35 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of 71 – 83 centimetres. The plumage of the manx shearwater is sharply divided into dark, glossy brown upperparts and greyish-white underparts.

What is the largest seabirds in the world?

Albatrosses are the world’s largest seabirds. They spend at least 85% of their lives at sea returning to land (usually remote islands) to breed and raise their young. New Zealand’s only endemic gull is the most threatened gull species in the world, and it’s rapidly declining.

How many passerines are in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s passerines. About half the world’s bird species belong to one order, Passeriformes. These are passerines (sometimes called the perching birds), and include sparrows and blackbirds. New Zealand has 49 native passerine species, with nine found only on outer islands.

What is the origin of passerine birds?

Passerines are the largest bird group worldwide, and probably originated on the Gondwana supercontinent. New Zealand began to drift away from Gondwana around 85 million years ago. At least one passerine family has probably evolved in isolation ever since – Acanthisittidae, the New Zealand wrens (not related to northern hemisphere wrens).

How many species of birds are in the Passeriformes?

About half the world’s bird species belong to one order, Passeriformes. These are passerines (sometimes called the perching birds), and include sparrows and blackbirds. New Zealand has 49 native passerine species, with nine found only on outer islands.

How many seabirds are there in New Zealand?

Page 1. Seabird capital of the world. Seabirds are birds that obtain all or nearly all of their food at sea. There are just 360 species of seabird out of a total of 9,000 bird species worldwide. Of this 360, 86 breed in the New Zealand region, including 38 (10% of the world total) which breed nowhere else.

Why is New Zealand the World’s Seabird capital?

A further nine migratory species breed elsewhere but visit New Zealand each year, and a number of others are recorded in New Zealand waters from time to time. With a greater diversity of seabirds than anywhere else, New Zealand can rightfully claim to be the world’s seabird capital.

What is New Zealand famous for?

New Zealand is considered the seabird capital of the world, with remarkable and unique seabirds. What’s that shorebird? A guide to the shorebirds of Aotearoa/New Zealand (PDF, 1,372K) New Zealand is famous for its land birds like the kiwi and kākāpō.

How long do shearwaters live?

Shearwaters are extremely long-lived for birds. The longest recorded life of a Shearwater was at least 55 years. How many Shearwaters are there today? Taken altogether the worldwide Shearwater population numbers in the millions. However some individual species face extinction with numbers only in the low tens of thousands.

How many species are in a Shearwater?

Note – “Shearwater” is a catch-all name that contains 6 genera and 37 species. Length: 35 to 65 cm, depending on species. Weight: Depends on species. Location: Temperate and cold waters, depending on species. Conservation status: Depends on species.

What is a Shearwater bird?

7 Stunning Shearwater Facts The name “Shearwater” comes from the birds’ flight style of shearing across the fronts of waves with their wings held stiff. A study on Sooty Shearwaters found that they migrate in the range of 64,000 km in a single year, which gives them the longest migration ever recorded electronically of any animal on Earth.

Where do New Zealand’s birds breed?

Large numbers of birds remain around the New Zealand coast year round. Breeding Threats Breeding sites:Breeds on numerous offshore islands between the Three Kings group and the Marlborough Sounds.

What are the different types of seabirds in NZ?

A number of other species visit from time to time. New Zealand’s seabirds include penguins, albatrosses, petrels, shags, prions, gannets and skuas. New Zealand has a wide variety of seabirds.