Bannerman's Shearwater Puffinus bannermani Scientific name definitions

27–33 cm; wingspan 64–74 cm. Small, dark-and-white shearwater with comparatively short broad wings and long rounded tail  . Compared to Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri), with which long treated as conspecific, present species has cold blackish upperparts , similar in general pattern and appearance, extension of dark on face as Audubon's Shearwater or intermediate between it and Tropical Shearwater (Puffinus bailloni), and perhaps less well clear-cut from white of underparts  , while underwing pattern as Audubon's Shearwater but usually has larger and more solid dark patch on carpal region. Sexes similar, but female averages slightly smaller in most measurements. Juvenile as adult.

Previously treated as conspecific with Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) (see Genus Puffinus). Monotypic.

W Pacific Ocean, breeding on Bonin Is and Volcano Is (S of Japan).

Marine; normally in offshore waters, but also pelagic and near land in vicinity of colonies. Breeds on oceanic islands and rocky offshore islets, occupying cliffs and earthy slopes, usually with little more than herbaceous vegetation.

No information, but the species’ at-sea range is speculated to be rather small.

Presumably fish, squid and crustaceans, like other members of Tropical Shearwater (Puffinus bailloni) complex, but no dietary studies published to date.

No detailed study of vocalizations, with no known differences from other members of the Tropical Shearwater (Puffinus bailloni) complex reported to date.

Breeding biology presumably similar to other members of P. bailloni complex, but no studies published to date.

ENDANGERED. Numbers basically unknown (1 Brooke, M. (2004). Albatrosses and Petrels Across the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), but it appears to occupy a very small range and very few locations (in addition to known localities, a fledgling was recently collected on Chichi-jima), with both numbers breeding and the species’ overall population are thought to be in decline owing to ongoing predation by introduced mammals. Rats were eradicated on Higashijima in 2008/09, following an event of mass predation on seabirds, but despite eradication being pursued on other islands there are still more than 20 islands in the Bonin group that are inhabited by introduced rats, and thus they are suspected to predate Bannerman's Shearwater. This species may also suffer mortality from collisions with artificial light sources and fisheries bycatch. More research is required to identify the main threats and their impacts.