Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Tropical Shearwater

Puffinus bailloni

The tropical shearwater, known scientifically as Puffinus bailloni, is a member of the Procellariidae family. This seabird, once thought to be the same species as Audubon's shearwater, has a distinct identity of its own.

Identification Tips

To identify the tropical shearwater, one should look for its characteristic features which include a slender body and the typical shearwater shape.

Subspecies

There are five subspecies of the tropical shearwater:

  • Puffinus bailloni nicolae: Breeds in the northwest Indian Ocean.
  • Puffinus bailloni colstoni: Found in the Aldabra Islands in the Seychelles.
  • Puffinus bailloni bailloni: Located in Mauritius, Réunion, and Europa Island.
  • Puffinus bailloni dichrous: Resides in Central Pacific islands.
  • Puffinus bailloni gunax: Inhabits Vanuatu.

Range

The tropical shearwater graces the tropical waters of the western Indian Ocean, from East Africa to southern India, and in the Pacific from southeast of Japan to French Polynesia.

Population

While the total population is not precisely quantified, notable concentrations include an estimated 26,118 pairs on Aride Island in Seychelles. The subspecies P. b. bailloni breeds on several small rat-free islands nearby, while P. b. dichrous is estimated to have 1,000–10,000 pairs on the Line Islands and 10,000–100,000 pairs on the Phoenix Islands. The nominate subspecies is thought to number 3,000–5,000 pairs on Réunion and fewer than 100 individuals on Europa.

Conservation Status

The tropical shearwater is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with the population appearing to be stable. This suggests that, for now, the species is not facing immediate threats that would warrant a higher risk category.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Tropical Shearwaters on Birda

Photos

More Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels

A photo of a Buller's Shearwater (Ardenna bulleri)

Buller's Shearwater

Ardenna bulleri
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.