upperwing

upperwing underwing European distribution

Identification

Like the Cory's Shearwater, this is much bigger and slower flapping than the other Shearwaters. Its identification can be clinched by seeing two pale bands across its upper parts, one just behind an obvious dark cap and one just in front of a very dark tail. It differs from Cory's by having straighter wings, dirty white underparts and a patterned underwing.

Habitat

Oceanic, most likely to be seen from headlands or during pelagic trips.

Migration

The species breeds in our winter on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island in the South Atlantic. After breeding they migrate north, spending summer off the coast of New England and Eastern Canada then returning in autumn via the eastern Atlantic

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Great Shearwater is classed as Scarce: broadly speaking, species that are covered in British Birds' annual review of scarce species (and forms of similar rarity).

Bay of Biscay, Basque Country, Spain 21/08/2010	at sea, Kerry 10/08/2010	at sea, Scilly 08/08/2010	at sea, Scilly 08/08/2010	at sea, Scilly 08/08/2010
at sea, Scilly 08/08/2010	South Atlantic, Cape Town Pelagic, Western Cape, South Africa 17/10/2009	Cape Town Pelagic, South Africa 26/11/2009	Bay of Biscay, Spain 04/09/2009	Bay of Biscay, Spain 04/09/2009

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http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob400.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Great Shearwater	Edit this link
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	Record Count Leaps from 70 to 7,000+	Tuesday 11th September 2007
	Huge numbers of Great Shearwaters passing the Outer Hebrides have obliterated the record Scottish count for this sought-after seabird, reports Brian Unwin.   read on

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