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PLATE 9: SHEARWATERS II AND JOUANIN’S PETREL
Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea V
L: 42. W: 100. Dark brown shearwater, similar in size to Wedge-tailed Shearwater but with shorter
tail, much narrower wings and variable white on underwing, which can often flash white in
contrast to dark plumage; dark feet project beyond tail in flight. Flight fast and direct with fast
wingbeats interspersed with glides on stiffly held wings, sometimes arcing high above the waves.
Habitat Maritime. Note Regular in summer in hatched area, though rare; vagrant The Gulf and Iran.Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes V
L: 43. W: 100. Uniformly dark nut-brown, often with slightly paler coverts and silvery flash on
primaries below, visible even at distance, distinguishes from Wedge-tailed Shearwater; if close,
note Flesh-footed’s larger, paler bill, slightly larger size, broader wings and shorter tail. Lazy
flight, generally more steady than Wedge-tailed with straighter wings: a series of slow, heavy
flaps followed by a long glide, rising well above the waves in windy conditions. Habitat Maritime.
Note Regular in summer in hatched area; vagrant Gulf of Aqaba and UAE.Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica sv
L: 43. W: 100. Sooty-brown with longish tail, the wedge shape being difficult to observe unless
tail is spread. May show paler bar on greater coverts above and light edging to all coverts, forming
narrow bars. Bill grey with dark tip. Flight lazy with 3–4 fairly quick wingbeats followed by short
glide, wings bowed forwards and downwards; flight erratic when windy, often changing direction and
soaring in low arcs. Told from Jouanin’s Petrel by larger size, broader-based wings, longer grey bill
with dark tip, which is held horizontally, and pale feet; from Sooty Shearwater by longer tail, broader
wings, all-dark underwings and pale feet; and from Flesh-footed Shearwater by slightly smaller size,
all-dark underwing (pale underside to primaries in Flesh-footed) and thinner bill, which is grey with
dark tip (flesh with dark tip in Flesh-footed). Habitat Maritime. Note Rare in summer in Arabian Sea;
vagrant UAE.Jouanin’s Petrel Bulweria fallax SV, sb?
L: 30. W: 75. Smaller than similar sooty-brown Wedge-tailed Shearwater with less languid flight;
all-dark stout bill held down at 45° angle. Tail fairly long, the graduation in tail not visible unless
close. In windy conditions will rise 2–5m above the waves in long banking arcs, interspersed with
spells of 4 or 5 rather leisurely flaps, which tend to be at the peak of the arcs. Otherwise flies
fairly close to the sea, progressing through troughs with a mixture of wingbeats and long glides.
Habitat Maritime. Note Regular in hatched area throughout year; vagrant UAE. May breed Oman.