Birds diurnal

Buller's Shearwater

Ardenna bulleri

A master of the Pacific winds, Buller's Shearwater is defined by its striking 'M' wing markings and graceful, low-altitude gliding. This long-distance voyager links the shores of New Zealand to the coastlines of North America in an incredible annual journey.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length 42-47 cm (16.5-18.5 in); Wingspan 97-102 cm (38-40 in); Weight approximately 400-430 g (14-15 oz)

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Colors

Pale grey upperparts with a distinctive dark brown 'M' pattern across the wings; snowy white underparts and underwings; blackish-grey cap extending to the eyes; slender black bill.

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Key Features

Distinctive dark 'M' or 'W' pattern across grey wings
Clean white underparts with a narrow dark border on wings
Slender black bill with a hooked tip
Elegant, low-gliding flight style with long periods of soaring

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours Daylight hours for foraging; dawn and dusk for movements near breeding colonies.

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Season September-May in New Zealand; June-August off the North American West Coast.

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Diet Small schooling fish, squid, and krill captured by 'surface-seizing' or shallow plunges while swimming.

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Habitat Pelagic (open ocean); occasionally visible from coastal headlands or cliffs during migration.

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Behavior

Buller's Shearwaters are the acrobats of the open ocean, utilizing a flight technique known as dynamic soaring to harvest energy from the wind. This allows them to glide for miles just inches above the waves with almost no wing flapping. Unlike some of their cousins, they are relatively shy around fishing vessels and rarely scavenge for scraps, preferring to hunt for natural prey in the vast Pacific.

They are highly social birds while at sea, often congregating in massive groups known as 'rafts' where they rest on the water's surface. During the breeding season, they return to their only known nesting grounds on the Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand. On land, they shift to a nocturnal lifestyle to avoid predators, navigating through dense forest to reach their underground nesting burrows.

As one of the world's great travelers, they follow a giant figure-eight migration path across the Pacific Ocean. After breeding, they journey north past Japan and Alaska before heading south along the California coast. This makes them a seasonal visitor for coastal observers, appearing like ghosts out of the sea mist during the late summer months.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Buller's Shearwater requires a specialized approach since they are strictly marine birds. If you have a 'backyard' that overlooks a coastal bluff or headland, position your camera at a high vantage point facing the ocean. Use a telephoto lens or a camera with a narrow field of view to capture birds gliding past. Because they move at high speeds, ensure your camera's shutter speed is set to at least 1/2000s to freeze the action and reveal the iconic 'M' pattern on their wings.

The best time to record these birds is during periods of 'onshore' winds, which push pelagic species closer to the coast. Look for 'work-ups' or feeding frenzies on the horizon—areas where tuna or dolphins are driving baitfish to the surface—as Buller's Shearwaters will often join these groups. Setting your AI camera to trigger on high-motion events during these times will yield the best results.

For those in New Zealand near breeding sites, trail cameras should be placed at ground level near burrow entrances. Use a 'no-glow' infrared flash to avoid disturbing the birds, as they are extremely sensitive to light while on land at night. Angle the camera slightly upward from the ground to capture the bird as it lands or emerges from its tunnel.

Since they don't visit traditional bird feeders, you won't be able to bait them. However, if you are capturing footage from a boat, mounting a gimbal-stabilized camera can help the AI track the bird smoothly despite the ocean swell. Focus your efforts on clear, bright days when the contrast between the grey 'M' on their back and the blue ocean is most striking for the AI recognition software.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Buller's Shearwater.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Much darker overall, typically chocolate-brown without the pale grey back or the distinct 'M' wing pattern.

Pink-footed Shearwater

Has a pinkish bill with a dark tip and mottled grey-brown underwings, whereas Buller's has clean white underwings.

Sooty Shearwater

Nearly entirely dark brown with silvery flashes on the underwings; lacks the bright white underparts and grey back of the Buller's.

Frequently Asked Questions

They are primarily diurnal (day-active) while at sea, spending their time foraging and flying during daylight hours. However, at their breeding colonies in New Zealand, they are nocturnal on land to avoid predators, only entering and leaving their burrows under the cover of darkness.

Because they are pelagic seabirds, they cannot be attracted with food or water like garden birds. To see them, you must have a 'coastal backyard' with an ocean view. You can increase your chances by looking during migration seasons or after storms that bring them closer to land.

Their diet is comprised of small schooling fish, squid, and various crustaceans like krill. They are 'surface feeders,' meaning they sit on the water and snatch prey from the surface or perform very shallow dives rather than deep-sea hunting.

No, they are never found in inland suburban areas. They are strictly marine birds. You will only find them in coastal communities that sit directly on the Pacific Ocean, particularly along major headlands during their migration.

Look at the back and underparts: Buller's has a light grey back with a sharp dark 'M' pattern and pure white underparts. The Wedge-tailed Shearwater is generally much darker, often entirely chocolate-brown or with heavily mottled underwings, and lacks the clean grey-and-white contrast.

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