Ardenna grisea
(Gmelin, 1789)
Sooty Shearwater
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Near threatenedIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
© Koray Öğreten; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Ryan Sanderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Kike Junco; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Ryan Shean; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Barbara Swanson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Blair Dudeck; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103124
Element CodeABNDB07060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderProcellariiformes
FamilyProcellariidae
GenusArdenna
Synonyms
Puffinus griseus(Gmelin, 1789)
Other Common Names
Pardela Oscuro, Fardela Negra (ES) Pardela-Preta, Bobo (PT) Puffin fuligineux (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Formerly (AOU 1983, 1998) Ardenna was considered part of Puffinus, but now treated as separate on the basis of genetic data (Penhallurick and Wink 2004, Austin et al. 2004, Pyle et al. 2011), which indicate that species in Ardenna and Puffinus form two deeply divergent clades that may not be sister groups. Analyses of morphology and biogeography (Oberholser 1917, Kuroda 1954) had previously recognized species of Puffinus, Ardenna, and the extralimital Calonectris as distinctive groups. Linear sequence of species follows Pyle et al. (2011) (AOU 2016).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-20
Change Date2025-10-20
Edition Date2025-10-20
Edition AuthorsJue, Dean K. (2014); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species is abundant throughout the world's oceans and has over 200 documented breeding sites. The population declined by around 50% during the 20th century and is continuing to decline. It is threatened by climate change, invasive mammalian predators, plastic pollution, and entanglement and by-catch from the fishing industry.
Range Extent Comments
This species is found nearly globally in the world's oceans, only absent in the coldest areas near the poles (Birdlife International 2019, Carboneras et al. 2024). Breeding (November-May) takes place on islands off southeastern Australia, New Zealand, and southern South America (Birdlife International 2019, Carboneras et al. 2024).
Occurrences Comments
There are more than 200 breeding colonies listed for this species in the southern oceans (Birdlife International 2019).
Threat Impact Comments
This species faces a number of threats in marine waters and at nesting sites on land. Climate impacts, particularly El Niño-Southern Oscillation events, is considered one of the biggest threats affecting this species through impacts on the food supply (McKechnie et al. 2020, Fletcher et al. 2021). Invasive mammalian predators, such as rats (Rattus spp.), have caused large declines at affected breeding sites (Birdlife International 2019, Miskelly et al. 2020). Entanglement and by-catch from fishing activities is a common source of mortality (Lensink 1984, King 1984, DeGange and Day 1991, Donnelly-Greenan et al. 2019, Bonnet-Lebrun et al. 2020). Consumption of plastic pollution is a growing threat that negatively impacts body condition and can cause mortality (Terepocki et al. 2017). Exposure to oil leaks is a concern with unknown impacts (Fox et al. 2016).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Pelagic. In spring and summer off California, concentrates in relatively shallow, cool waters, especially where strong thermal gradients mark the edge of upwellings (Briggs and Chu 1986). Nests in burrows on islands.
Ecology
May form huge flocks in nonbreeding season. Often in loose flocks of a few to 50 or more birds (Costa Rica, Stiles and Skutch 1989).
Reproduction
Breeds mostly during October-May in southern South America (Hilty and Brown 1986). Eggs are laid usually in late November. Clutch size is 1. Incubation lasts about 56 days. Chick remains in burrow for about 3 months; begins to fly at 100+ days after hatching (Terres 1980). Nests in colonies.
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5N
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | SNRM | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | S5N | Yes |
| Island of Newfoundland | SNRN | Yes |
| Prince Edward Island | SNA | Yes |
| Quebec | S4N | Yes |
| New Brunswick | S4N,S4M | Yes |
| Labrador | SNRN | Yes |
United StatesN5N
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | S4N | Yes |
| New Hampshire | SNA | Yes |
| Maryland | SNA | Yes |
| Washington | S4N | Yes |
| Virginia | SNRN | Yes |
| Georgia | SNRN | Yes |
| Massachusetts | S5N | Yes |
| Rhode Island | SNA | Yes |
| California | SNRN | Yes |
| Maine | S3N | Yes |
| Oregon | SNA | Yes |
| New Jersey | S4N | Yes |
| Alaska | S5N | Yes |
| North Carolina | SNA | Yes |
| Florida | SNA | Yes |
| New York | SNRN | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 - Biological resource use | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Large - restricted | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.4 - Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.4.4 - Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9 - Pollution | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 9.2 - Industrial & military effluents | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9.2.1 - Oil spills | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9.4 - Garbage & solid waste | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 11.1 - Habitat shifting & alteration | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (21)
Alaska (18)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bering Lake | Chugach National Forest | 965,076 |
| Chugach-12 | Chugach National Forest | 8,116 |
| Chugach-14 | Chugach National Forest | 184 |
| Chugach-15 | Chugach National Forest | 56 |
| College Fiord | Chugach National Forest | 1,130,818 |
| Copper River Wetlands | Chugach National Forest | 85,972 |
| Duke | Tongass National Forest | 45,091 |
| El Capitan | Tongass National Forest | 26,693 |
| Kenai Mountains | Chugach National Forest | 306,600 |
| Montague | Chugach National Forest | 204,875 |
| North Kupreanof | Tongass National Forest | 114,660 |
| Port Alexander | Tongass National Forest | 120,681 |
| Salmon Bay | Tongass National Forest | 22,793 |
| Sheridan Glacier | Chugach National Forest | 224,683 |
| South Kruzof | Tongass National Forest | 55,193 |
| Upper Situk | Tongass National Forest | 16,789 |
| Windham-Port Houghton | Tongass National Forest | 161,952 |
| Yakutat Forelands | Tongass National Forest | 323,648 |
Oregon (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Tenmile | Siuslaw National Forest | 10,818 |
| Umpqua Spit | Siuslaw National Forest | 2,090 |
| Woahink | Siuslaw National Forest | 5,309 |
References (41)
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