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 Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis *POSSIBLY BREEDS ON OAHU? Medium-sized, chocolate brown bird with a short, rounded tail, black bill and dark, brown legs. Length: 14-15 wingspan: 28-32 in. Smaller then the similar dark-phase Wedge-tailed shearwaters which also have longer tails and flesh-colored legs and feet. Flight is buoyant and graceful with rapid wing beats and long glides. An estimated 40-60 pairs of Christmas shearwaters nest on Moku Manu island on Oahu's windward coast. A population of approximately 166 nesting pairs was observed on Eastern Island which is a part of Midway Atoll NWR. Larger colonies are found on islands in the north and central Pacific Ocean. Christmas shearwaters feed primarily in association with large predatory fish such as skipjack tuna. These fish drive the larval forms of fish to the surface. Christmas Shearwaters locate larval food such as mackerel scad, flying squid, goat fish and squirrel fish most likely by using their sense of smell. Christmas Shearwaters capture prey by plunging into water and chasing it. Trip Reports By Date Sightings Charts Checklist | Pick-up locations | Links Guestbook | Birding on Oahu Our Land Eco-Tours | Bird Books Oahu Nature Tours Phone:(808) 924-2473 Fax: (808) 924-5395  All content and photos on this website are copyrighted and not to be used or distributed without written permission from Oahu Nature Tours, Inc. and Robin W.Baird |
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