Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacificus)

Identification & Behavior: ~43 cm (17 in). The Wedge-tailed Shearwater has brownish upperparts. It shows pale barring or edging of the feathers but this is variable and changes between fresh and worn plumage. The underparts are white. The underwing is also white. The bill is light gray with a blackish tip. It has a dark morph, which is uniformly brown with pale edging on the feathers of the upperparts. It forages in pelagic waters. It is similar to the Gray Petrel but has white underwing. It is also similar to the Pink-footed Shearwater but has paler underwing, longer tail, and slender build. The dark morph is similar to a Sooty Shearwater but has dark underwing.

Status: The Wedge-tailed Shearwater is known in Peru from only a few sight records off the coast of northern Peru. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Pardela Cola de Cuña.

Sub-species: Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacificus), (J. F. Gmelin), 1789.

Meaning of Name: Ardenna: L. Ardenna or Artènna= Name given to the Diomedean or seabirds in some Italian dialects. pacificus: L. pax, pacis= peace and facere= to make. Pacificus= peaceful.

Formerly known as Puffinus pacificus (2018).

See more of the Family Procellariidae