Puffinus huttoni Mathews, 1912

Nomenclature

This bird species, Puffinus huttoni Mathews, 1912, is commonly known as Hutton's shearwater. Its scientific name commemorates Frederick Hutton, a former curator of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Size and Weight

It is a medium-sized seabird that weighs 350 g, with a 75 cm wingspan.

Plumage Characteristics

Its plumage is brown overall, with a white underbelly, a brown collar, and dark borders along the underwing.

Extremity Appearance

It has a dark grey bill and pinkish feet with dark webbing.

Distinguishing Features

It can be told apart from the fluttering shearwater by its dark grey "armpits".

Breeding Colony Vocalization

When at a breeding colony, it produces a loud cackling call.

Non-breeding Range

Except during the breeding season, these birds live entirely out at sea.

Breeding Season Migration

During the September to March (spring and summer) breeding season, adult birds migrate to New Zealand waters.

New Zealand Feeding Distribution

Individual birds have been sighted all along the entire New Zealand coast, but most individuals feed off the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, especially between Cook Strait and Banks Peninsula.

Kaikōura Coast Occurrence

Large flocks can be seen off the Kaikōura coast during summer.

Non-breeding Australian Distribution

Outside of the breeding season, most birds are found in Australian waters.

Pre-maturity Dispersal Pattern

Geo-locators fitted to young birds have shown that some individuals circumnavigate Australia in an anti-clockwise direction over the 4 to 5 years before they reach sexual maturity.

Diet Composition

Hutton's shearwater feeds in the open ocean, mostly eating small fish and krill.

Diving Depth

It can dive to depths of up to 20 m to catch prey.

Foraging Adaptations

This species has long bills adapted to catch prey underwater.

Foraging Behaviors

It obtains prey either by plunging into the water from a few metres above the surface, or by paddling slowly forward with its head submerged to search, then diving using its partly opened wings for propulsion.