Audubon's shearwater: where and when to see them

Audubon's shearwater is a small, dark-backed, white-bellied seabird associated with the tropical western Atlantic under modern, narrower taxonomy. Older references used its name for a much broader collection of tropical shearwaters. That history matters for this catalog: birds formerly labelled Audubon's shearwater in the Maldives are generally treated as tropical shearwaters, not this species. A Maldives entry therefore cannot be presented as an established opportunity to observe true Audubon's shearwater.

Size

30–33 cm long

Weight

150–230 g

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

At sea, Audubon's shearwaters alternate quick wingbeats with low glides and gather where small prey becomes available. They nest in concealed cavities, crevices or burrows on islands, commonly visiting colonies after dark. Pairs share incubation and chick provisioning, usually raising a single chick per attempt. Their secretive nesting and similarity to related shearwaters complicate identification. Old records from outside the Atlantic require careful taxonomic interpretation rather than automatic assignment to this species today. Outside of the breeding season, they are largely pelagic, spending most of their time far out at sea. During breeding, adults are nocturnal at their colonies, helping to avoid diurnal predators like gulls and raptors.

• Its common name honours John James Audubon.
• The formerly broad species concept has been divided into several geographically distinct species.
• It normally lays a single egg in a concealed nest.
• Nocturnal colony visits help reduce exposure to daytime predators.

There is no supported Maldives season for observing Audubon's shearwater as currently defined. Western Atlantic colony schedules cannot be transferred to the Indian Ocean. Any Maldives seabird planning should first resolve the intended species and then use locally supported information for that taxon. Globally, nesting typically occurs during the spring and summer months, though breeding seasons can vary geographically across its wide range. For any potential sightings in the Maldives, local seasonal patterns of seabird movement or vagrancy would need to be considered.

The species uses warm western Atlantic marine waters and predator-free or predator-limited islands for breeding. Nest sites are concealed in rocky cavities or burrows. The Maldives lies outside its accepted normal range, so apparently suitable tropical island habitat there does not establish its presence. While the Maldives is outside its primary range, some vagrants or dispersers might occasionally occur. It is generally found in warm, tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

Small fish, squid and marine crustaceans form its diet. Prey is obtained at or below the surface, sometimes where other predators concentrate food. Feeding observations attributed to broadly defined Audubon's shearwaters in older Indian Ocean accounts may concern different species under current taxonomy. They employ a 'surface-seizing' feeding technique, diving shallowly to snatch prey. This species will also join mixed-species feeding flocks to exploit bait balls or fish schools pushed to the surface by larger predators.

Common name

Audubon's shearwater

Scientific name

Puffinus lherminieri

Animal group

Birds

Size

30–33 cm long

Weight

150–230 g

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Identification

Compared with tropical shearwater, Audubon's shearwater often shows darker undertail coverts, but these similar birds require careful assessment of plumage, structure and geographic range. Note the distinctive dark brown upperparts contrasting with white underparts, and pay close attention to the underwing pattern for subtle variations. Audubon's shearwater is generally a small, compact shearwater species, typically measuring around 30 cm in length.