Subantarctic Shearwater

The Subantarctic Shearwater, known scientifically as Puffinus elegans, is a diminutive avian species with a penchant for breeding in the remote and windswept locales of Tristan da Cunha, the southern Indian Ocean islands, and the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands.

Identification Tips

This species is often considered a close relative, or sometimes a subspecies, of the Little Shearwater. Observers should note its small size and sleek profile, typical of the shearwaters, as they glide over the ocean waves.

Habitat

The Subantarctic Shearwater is a pelagic bird, favoring the open ocean far from continental shelves. It comes ashore only to breed on isolated islands.

Distribution

The breeding range of this species encompasses the islands of Tristan da Cunha, various islands in the southern Indian Ocean, and the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Subantarctic Shearwater as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, the species does not face an immediate threat of extinction in the wild.