Little Shearwater

Puffinus assimilis Gould, 1838

Little Shearwater, Puffinus assimilis, breeds on islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans, including the south-central Indian Ocean, islets off south-western Australia, and outlying islands of New Zealand. It is a petrel in the family Procellariidae, described by Gould in 1838. It nests in burrows in colonies on islands and coastal cliffs, and the burrows are visited only at night to reduce the risk from large gulls. The species is also known for its low, side-to-side flight over the sea, with stiff wings and little wing-beating.

Order

Procellariiformes

Family

Procellariidae — Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels

Breeding range

Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean: sc Indian Ocean, islets off sw, s Australia and outlying islands of New Zealand