---
title: "Separating Short-tailed, Sooty and Balearic Shearwaters at sea in the North Atlantic"
---

# Separating Short-tailed, Sooty and Balearic Shearwaters at sea in the North Atlantic

Robert Flood ([FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology](http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa) and Ashley Fisher have published in the journal [British Birds](https://britishbirds.co.uk) giving criteria to separate three shearwater species at sea; one being the dark-plumaged form of the ACAP-listed and [Critically Endangered](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/balearic-shearwater-puffinus-mauretanicus) Balearic Shearwater *Puffinus mauretanicus*.

 The paper’s abstract follows:

 “Short-tailed Shearwater *Ardenna tenuirostris* is an abundant species of the Pacific Ocean. We reviewed records for the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and suggest that a regular pattern of movement in these oceans is hitherto unrecognised.  It follows that the vagrancy potential of Short-tailed Shearwater to the North Atlantic probably is greater than suggested by the few documented records.  Short-tailed may have been overlooked or confused with the similar-looking Sooty Shearwater *A. grisea* and, in the northeast Atlantic, dark-plumaged Balearic Shearwater *Puffinus mauretanicus*.  Criteria for the separation of these three species at sea are presented in a bid to establish a clearer picture of the status of Short-tailed Shearwater in the North Atlantic.  Separation of Short-tailed from Sooty Shearwater builds on existing criteria; characters for separation from dark-plumaged Balearic Shearwater are new.”

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Short_tailed/Short_tailed_Shearwater_Peter_Ryan.jpg)

 Short-tailed Shearwater at sea, photograph by Peter Ryan

 **Reference:**

 Flood, R.[K.] & Fisher, A.  2019.  Identification of Short-tailed Shearwater in the North Atlantic Ocean.  [*British Birds* 112: 250-263](https://britishbirds.co.uk/article/identification-of-short-tailed-shearwater-in-the-north-atlantic-ocean/).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 16 July 2019*