Greater shearwater Puffinus gravis

Identification Tips:

• Sexes similar
• Pelagic bird only coming ashore to breed
• Large shearwater
• Dark bill with tube on top
• Dark brown cap
• Grayish-brown upperparts
• White uppertail coverts
• White underparts with indistinct brownish belly
• Rapid wingbeats
• Glides on stiff wings

Similar species:

Gulls flap their wings more slowly and smoothly and lack the tube on top of the bill. Northern Fulmar's plumage does not have as much contrast and build is stockier. Manx Shearwater is smaller with faster wingbeats. Cory's Shearwater lacks the contrasting dark cap and the brownish belly and has a pale bill.