Wedge-tailed Shearwater

About the Wedge-tailed Shearwater

The wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) (Uau Kani or Koto in Hawaiian) is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It is one of the shearwater species that is sometimes referred to as a muttonbird, like the sooty shearwater of New Zealand and the short-tailed shearwater of Australia. It is found throughout the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, roughly between latitudes 35°N and 35°S. It breeds on the islands off Japan, on the Islas Revillagigedo, the Hawaiian Islands, the Seychelles, the Northern Mariana Islands, and off Eastern and Western Australia. Its Hawaiian name "Uau Kani" reflects the sound of their bird call. Native Hawaiians had sometimes named birds after the nature of their melody.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Ardenna pacifica

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