30. Fluttering Shearwater
(Puffinus gavia)
Plate 13

Field Characters: 86/33. A medium to small-sized shearwater with uniformly dark brown upperparts (see note). Sides of face and neck grey-brown fading into white well below the eye. Underbody, including undertail coverts, white, except for dark brown thigh patch which shows well in flight. Underwing generally white, but the grey-brown tone of the underwing coverts in axillary region is discernible at close range (Fig. 13). page 41

Fig. 15: A group of Cape Pigeons (Daption capensis) resting on an ice floe.
— Photo: Mannering and Associates

The long and slender bill is dark greyish brown. The feet are pale pink with dark outer edges and extend beyond the short rounded tail in flight.

Differs from Hutton's Shearwater (31) by its lighter underwing and lesser extent of grey on lower neck. Both these characters are discernible only at close range and under favourable light conditions. Differs from Little Shearwater (32) by its larger size and generally brown (not black) uppersurface.

Flight during calm weather is direct, fast and very low to water with alternating rapid wingbeats with stiff glides of varying duration. This species is restricted to inshore waters where it is often encountered in large flocks. Readily alights on water and dives well and frequently. Does not follow ships.

Common summer breeder on offshore islands from the Three Kings to Cook Strait, and (as a different race) on New Caledonia and New Hebrides.

Note: The dark upperparts fade rapidly during the year, and birds approaching their moult (February-April) can appear pale rusty brown.