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Sooty Shearwater | Puffinus griseus
The Sooty Shearwater is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Procellariidae bird family group which includes birds such as Petrels, Shearwaters. The description for the Sooty Shearwater (Latin name Puffinus griseus) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Puffinus griseus can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 37 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 673. You will find a picture of the Sooty Shearwater on page 704. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Sooty Shearwater between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Sooty Shearwater has a height of 48 cms and weighs around 950 gms. The head is coloured grey, brown while the bill is coloured grey. The Puffinus griseus has a black coloured throat, brown legs and a black coloured back. The eyes are brown. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is grey, brown Eyes are brown Bill is grey Legs are brown Throat is black Back is black Feeding Habits ...This birds forages for fish and other aquatic dwellers through surface sizing and diving for food in the water. This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water. This bird is a well known scavenger and rarely kills its own prey. Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...You can see the Sooty Shearwater bird on coastal regions and on the sea shore where the bird will be foraging with other birds The Sooty Shearwater is a very rare bird that can only be seen out at sea following fish vessels. It can be seen in the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean. Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Sooty Shearwater is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. |
