Little Shearwater

Status One record. The only confirmed Canadian record of this species (Puffinus assimilis baroli subspecies) was a dead bird picked up on Sable Island on 1 September 1896 by Superintendent R.J. Bouteillier (Dwight 1897). In addition, small black-and-white shearwaters thought to be this species or Audubon's Shearwaters were seen off Sable Island on 27-28 August 1978 (A. Sheppard) and off eastern Cape Breton Island on 29 July 1982 (two birds, S. Zendeh). The birds off Cape Breton Island were evidently blown into Nova Scotian waters by a storm; their description suggests Little Shearwaters rather than Audubon's Shearwaters.

Remarks This and the next species resemble miniature Manx Shearwaters with a very rapid wing-beat interspersed with glides. The Little Shearwater has a shorter tail than Audubon's Shearwater, and the P.a.baroli subspecies from breeding grounds in the eastern Atlantic has white on its face extending above the eye.