The tropical shearwater (Puffinus bailloni) is a seabird in the Procellariidae family. The tropical shearwater ranges across Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. There are four recognized subspecies of these bird species. The subspecies are: P. b. nicolae, P. b. bailloni, P. b. dichrous and P. b. gunax.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had categorized and evaluated these shearwater species and had listed them as of 'Least Concern'.
These birds are small in size, measuring 25 to 35 cm in length and weighing 150 to 250 grams. Their wingspan is 65 to 75 cm. These birds are dark brown in color with white throat. They are pelagic, but quite often sighted offshore. They are seen off south India, Japan and east Africa. They feed on fish, squid and shrimp. These birds breed during summer months.
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| Indian birds - Tropical shearwater - Puffinus bailloni |
| Biological classification of Puffinus bailloni | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Procellariidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Puffinus |
| Species: | P. bailloni |
| Binomial name: | Puffinus bailloni |
| Distribution: | occasionally Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, |
| Feeding habits: | fish, squids and shrimp; |
| IUCN status listing: |  Least Concern |
Image source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P%C3%A9trel_de_Barau_.jpg
Author: Kinlarak | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Tropical shearwater - Puffinus bailloni.