Flesh-footed Shearwater vs Wedge-tailed Shearwater

In short

The Flesh-footed Shearwater and Wedge-tailed Shearwater can be distinguished by their tail shape and bill color. The Wedge-tailed Shearwater has a distinctive long, wedge-shaped tail and a slender grayish bill, while the Flesh-footed Shearwater has a more uniform dark plumage and a pale pinkish bill.

Identification tips

1. Tail Shape: Look for the long, wedge-shaped tail of the Wedge-tailed Shearwater. 2. Bill Color: Note the pale pinkish bill of the Flesh-footed Shearwater compared to the grayish bill of the Wedge-tailed Shearwater. 3. Plumage: Check for the uniform dark plumage of the Flesh-footed Shearwater versus the light morph of the Wedge-tailed Shearwater with white wing undersides. 4. Flight Style: Observe the flight; Wedge-tailed Shearwaters have a more buoyant glide.

Size

Both species are similar in size, but the Wedge-tailed Shearwater may appear slightly more slender due to its long tail.

Plumage

Flesh-footed Shearwaters have uniform dark plumage, whereas Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, especially the light morph, show irregularly white undersurfaces of the wings and pale scaly edgings to back feathers.

Behaviour

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters often display unhurried, buoyant glides with stiff wingbeats and are known for their contact-dipping feeding behavior. Flesh-footed Shearwaters also glide but are less buoyant.

Habitat

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters are common in warm tropical waters and can be seen from shore, often in large flocks. Flesh-footed Shearwaters are more pelagic and less frequently seen from land.