The wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) belongs to the seabird family Procellariidae. The wedge-tailed shearwater ranges across the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, breeding in the islands off Japan, Hawaiian Islands, Seychelles, India and Australia. There are two recognized subspecies of these shearwaters. The subspecies A. p. pacifica ranges across Pacific Ocean. The subspecies A. p. chlororhyncha ranges across Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had categorized and evaluated these shearwater species and had listed them as of 'Least Concern'.
These shearwater are medium sized birds, measuring 35 to 45 cm in length and weigh 300 to 600 grams. These shearwater have a wingspan of about 100 cm. They have characteristic wedge tail. They feed on fish, shrimp and squids. They pick feed from the surface of water as well as by diving. These shearwater establish breeding colonies and nest in burrows. They are monogamous and make long term pairing bonds. Both male and female incubate the single egg. Both the parents take turn to feed the chick.
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| Indian bird - Wedge-tailed shearwater - Ardenna pacifica |
| Biological classification of Ardenna pacificus | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Procellariidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Ardenna |
| Species: | A. pacifica |
| Binomial name: | Ardenna pacifica |
| Distribution: | Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean |
| Feeding habits: | fish, squids and shrimp; |
| IUCN status listing: |  Least Concern |
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wedge_tailed_shearwater2.jpg
Author: Svtiste | License: Public domain
Current topic in Birds of India: Wedge-tailed shearwater - Ardenna pacifica.