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Newell's Shearwater
Puffinus newelli
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About the Newell's Shearwater
Newell's shearwater or Hawaiian shearwater (ʻaʻo), (Puffinus newelli) is a seabird in the family Procellariidae. It belongs to a confusing group of shearwaters which are difficult to identify and whose classification is controversial. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) and is now often placed in Townsend's shearwater (Puffinus auricularis). This shearwater is the only seabird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Its Hawaiian name "ʻaʻo" comes from the sound of its call. Native Hawaiians regarded the ʻaʻo's haunting song as an omen of death.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Puffinus newelli
- Family
- Shearwaters and Petrels
- Order
- Procellariiformes
Similar species
Other members of the shearwaters and petrels family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Barolo Shearwater Puffinus baroli
- Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow
- Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata
- Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas
- Black-winged Petrel Pterodroma nigripennis
- Bonin Petrel Pterodroma hypoleuca
- Buller's Shearwater Ardenna bulleri
- Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
- Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii
- Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis
- Cook's Petrel Pterodroma cookii
- Cory's Shearwater Calonectris borealis
Know when the Newell's Shearwater turns up near you
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Optics
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