Alternative names: Christmas Island Shearwater; Kiritimati Shearwater
- Puffinus nativitatis
Identification
36cm
- Dark brown
- Slightly paler underparts
- Dark brown underwings
- Short tail
- Brown-grey feet
Distribution
Widespread throughout tropical central Pacific Ocean including Christmas Island and surrounding islands.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Pelagic; nests on sandy islands.
Behaviour
Breeding
It nests on the surface. The single white egg is incubated for about 50 days.
Diet
It feeds at sea, and the diet includes squid, goatfish and flying fish.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Christmas Shearwater. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Christmas_Shearwater
