Description:-

Large shearwater with scaled, dark gray-brown upperparts, white underparts. White head has variable light to heavy pale brown streaks. Uppertail coverts can be white, forming a pale “horseshoe.” The forehead is white. Bill is pale. Legs and feet are pink. Eats small fish and squid. Flies with loose, angled wings. Light, graceful flapping and gliding. The bird is 48 cm (19 in) in size, with a 122 cm (48 in) wingspan.

Threats:-

Rats, cats and human disturbance may threaten the species in their breeding areas. The species is also susceptible to fisheries bycatch and the impact of climate change on their migration needs to be examined.

Remark:-

This species has a very large range, and comes to Indian (Kerala) coast as migratory bird. It feeds mainly on fish and squid. In Kerala this bird is reported from the north (Karuthedathu et al. 2013).

Habitat:-

Pelagic, also occurs in inshore waters.

Synonyms:-

References:-

Adriaens, P. (2014). Calonectris leucomelas (Temminck, 1835). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=343971 on 2015-01-29
Karuthedathu, D., Palot, M.J., Praveen, J. Sreenivasan, P.P., Uthaman,K.V. 2013. Streaked Shearwater Calonectrics leucomelas from Kannur coast, Kerala Indian Birds 8 (2): 44–45.