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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Procellariidae
  4. ›
  5. Puffinus
  6. ›
  7. Fluttering Shearwater
Fluttering Shearwater
Photo · Natewilbournee

BirdUp · Species

Fluttering Shearwater

Puffinus gavia(Forster, JR, 1844)

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PROCELLARIIFORMES
Family
Procellariidae
Genus
Puffinus

At a glance

The Fluttering Shearwater is a medium-sized bird, about 32–37 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
32–37 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Fluttering Shearwater look like?

The Fluttering Shearwater is a medium-sized bird, about 32–37 cm long and weighing 200–360 g.

The fluttering shearwater is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and migrates to Australia and the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores. It has been known as Forster's shearwater in the past.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
32–37 cm
Weight
200–360 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Fluttering Shearwater?

The Fluttering Shearwater is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Fluttering Shearwater eat?

The Fluttering Shearwater feeds on fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Fluttering Shearwater live in Australia?

The Fluttering Shearwater is native to Australia, recorded across 23 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingIslets of north-east North I. and Marlborough Sounds (north-east South I.; New Zealand)

Non-breedingTo south and east Australian waters

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

7 regions recorded