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Books about Fulmars, Petrels, Shearwaters and Storm-petrels

The books are listed in order of publication date with the most recent at the top.


For more books about seabirds in general see the;

Seabirds page



In, or near, the UK

Fulmar (Northern Fulmar)
Fulmarus glacialis

Cory's Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea

Great Shearwater
Puffinus gravis

Sooty Shearwater
Puffinus griseus

Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus

Balearic Shearwater
Puffinus mauretanicus

European Storm-petrel
Hydrobates pelagicus

Leach's Storm-petrel
Oceanodroma leucorhoa

Swinhoe's Petrel
Oceanodroma monorhis

Wilson's Storm-petrel
Oceanites oceanicus

There have also been a number of sightings of other shearwaters and petrels in GB waters.

 

Multimedia Identification Guide to North Atlantic Seabirds: Albatrosses and Fulmarine Petrels

Bob Flood and Ashley Fisher

Illustrations: John Gale

Scilly Pelagics

2016

270 plus page book with 200 photographs, 180 illustrations and colour range maps. Also 2 DVDs with 120 minutes of at sea, at colony and in-hand footage. Species covered: Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Grey-headed Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Shy Albatross, Tristan Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel, Northern Giant Petrel, Atlantic Fulmar, Pacific Fulmar, and Cape Petrel

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Multimedia Identification Guide to North Atlantic Seabirds: Pterodroma Petrels

Bob Flood and Ashley Fisher

Illustrations: Martin Elliott

Scilly Pelagics

2013

300 plus page book with 350 photographs, 40 illustrations and 11 colour range maps. Also 2 DVDs with 120 minutes of at sea, at colony and in-hand footage. Species covered: Trindade Petrel, Kermadec Petrel, Atlantic Petrel, Great-winged Petrel, Bermuda Petrel, Black-capped Petrel, Soft-plumaged Petrel, Fea's Petrel, Cape Verde Petrel, Desertas Petrel, Zino's Petrel

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Sheer Cliffs and Shearwaters: A Skomer Island Journal

Richard Kipling

Brambleby Books

2013

"The author explores the natural history of Skomer Island, and provides a personal reflection on life and work of a beautiful and remote seabird colony off the west Wales coast."

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Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide

Steve N. G. Howell

Princeton University Press

2012

"Petrels, albatrosses, and storm-petrels are among the most beautiful yet least known of all the world's birds, living their lives at sea far from the sight of most people. Largely colored in shades of gray, black, and white, these enigmatic and fast-flying seabirds can be hard to differentiate, particularly from a moving boat. Useful worldwide, not just in North America, this photographic guide is based on unrivaled field experience and combines insightful text and hundreds of full-color images to help you identify these remarkable birds.

The first book of its kind, this guide features an introduction that explains ocean habitats and the latest developments in taxonomy. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features such as flight manner, plumage variation related to age and molt, seasonal occurrence patterns, and migration routes. Species accounts are arranged into groups helpful for field identification, and an overview of unique identification challenges is provided for each group. The guide also includes distribution maps for regularly occurring species as well as a bibliography, glossary, and appendixes."

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Rare Birds: The Extraordinary Tale of the Bermuda Petrel and the Man Who Brought It Back from Extinction

Elizabeth Gehrman

Beacon Press

2012

"This tiny island in the middle of the North Atlantic was once the breeding ground for millions of Bermuda petrels. Also known as cahows, the graceful and acrobatic birds fly almost nonstop most of their lives, drinking seawater and sleeping on the wing. But shortly after humans arrived here, more than three centuries ago, the cahows had vanished, eaten into extinction by the country's first settlers. Then, in the early 1900s, tantalizing hints of the cahows' continued existence began to emerge. In 1951, an American ornithologist and a Bermudian naturalist mounted a last-ditch effort to find the birds that had come to seem little more than a legend, bringing a teenage Wingate - already a noted birder - along for the ride. When the stunned scientists pulled a blinking, docile cahow from deep within a rocky cliffside, it made headlines around the world - and told Wingate what he was put on this earth to do. Starting with just seven nesting pairs of the birds, Wingate would devote his life to giving the cahows the chance they needed in their centuries-long struggle for survival - battling hurricanes, invasive species, DDT, the American military, and personal tragedy along the way."

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Pelagic Birds of the North Atlantic: An Identification Guide

Andy Paterson

New Holland

2012

"This innovative new guide, printed on waterproof paper to withstand the rigours of oceanic trips, gives annotated illustrations of every plumage of every pelagic species, including vagrants, which could be encountered in the North Atlantic, from the Caribbean and Cape Verde Islands right up to the Arctic. In total 56 species are covered, from albatrosses right through to phalaropes."

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Multimedia Identification Guide to North Atlantic Seabirds: Storm-Petrels & Bulwer's Petrel

Bob Flood and Ashley Fisher

Illustrations: Ian Lewington

Scilly Pelagics

2011

2nd edition 2013

Two DVDs with over 120 minutes of highly informative footage. Book with over 200 pages of detailed and original text, 130 colour photographs, 40 illustrations, and large format colour range maps. Species covered: White-faced Storm-petrel, Wilson's Storm-petrel, European Storm-petrel, Black-bellied Storm-petrel, `white-bellied' storm-petrels, Band-rumped Storm-petrel, Leach's Storm-petrel, Swinhoe's Storm-petrel, Matsudaira's Storm-petrel, and Bulwer's Petrel.

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Petrels Night and Day: A Sound Approach Guide

Magnus Robb, Killian Mullarney and The Sound Approach

The Sound Approach

2008

"This is a comprehensive exploration of the petrels of Europe and North Africa. You can listen to previously unpublished digital stereo recordings of 23 species of petrels nesting on islets, islands and coasts of the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. You will learn how to separate them by ear, with the help of clearly annotated sonagrams. You can read the author's tales of making the recordings, and learn where to go to experience the birds. There is a series of full-colour plates and photographs for birdwatchers and especially seawatchers. Many of the photographs were taken at the same time as the recordings. Most importantly, read how the latest research is leading to the recognition of new – European – species, some of which are exceedingly rare. With 130 recordings spread out over two CDs, the sounds of Petrels Night and Day ‘illustrate' the text in addition to excellent quality photographs and illustrations by Killian Mullarney that appear throughout. The second title in The Sound Approach series continues to set the benchmark for understanding bird sounds, regardless of the reader's ability and experience. Written and illustrated by enthusiasts so be warned: this book could be the start of a serious obsession."

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Storm-petrels of the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Species Assembly and Diversity along Marine Habitat Gradients

Larry B Spear and David G Ainley

Ornithological Monographs 62

American Ornithologists' Union

2007

A 76 page paper.

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Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the World

Derek Onley

A Helm Field Guide

Christopher Helm

2006

"The first comprehensive guide to pelagic birds, the albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, storm-petrels and diving petrels. A total of 46 spectacular colour plates highlight key ID criteria of the birds in flight, with close-ups of diagnostic regions of the plumage. The plates are accompanied by accurate distribution maps, while the sparkling text brings the world of these amazing birds to life. Several extremely rare species, such as Beck's Petrel, are illustrated for the first time, while the New Zealand Storm-petrel, rediscovered as recently as 2004, is also included."

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Albatrosses and Petrels Across the World

Michael de L. Brooke

Colour plates: John Cox

Oxford University Press

2004

518 pages, 32pp colour plates, numerous halftones and maps

Provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date species-level information available on this family of birds. Introductory general chapters cover the biology, feeding ecology, breeding behaviour, evolutionary relationships, and conservation of the birds in the family. These are followed by accounts of each of the 125 species of albatross and petrel, including weights and measurements, field characters, voice, habitat and food, breeding behaviour, life cycle, and range and status. The book includes 16 colour plates by John Cox showing adults of all species and many juveniles, immatures, and subspecies, plus integrated species distribution maps and black-and-white line figures.

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Seabirds: A Natural History

Tony Gaston

Poyser

2004

"This title takes an in-depth look at the lives of the world's true seabirds - the penguins, tubenoses, peleceaniids, gulls, terns, skuas and auks. These birds all spend much of their lives foraging at sea, but the range of ways that they are adapted to exploit the marine environment and balance this with the need to return to land to breed, is astoundingly diverse. They range from the albatrosses, which take their prey from the surface of the water and are capable of efficient gliding flight for hours on end, to the penguins which have dispensed with flight altogether and have developed a morphology and physiology which enables them to dive deeper and for longer than any other birds. The various problems of being a bird which forages at sea, and the array of solutions evolution has produced to counter them are the theme of this book, which should fascinate everyone with an interest in pelagic birds."

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The Behaviour, Population Biology and Physiology of the Petrels

John Warham

Academic Press Inc

1996

The second volume of two volume study of Petrels. This volume covers the behaviour and biology of the Petrels and includes chapters on distribution, dispersal and migration, feeding and foods, behavior and vocalizations, physiology and energetics, biochemistry, locomotion, anatomy, evolution and radiation, and Petrels and man.

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Flight of the Shearwater

Vincent Serventy

Kangaroo Press

1996

"The short-tailed shearwater, a lovely smaller cousin of the stately albatross, is the longest studied of all Australian bird species. Known as the Tasmanian muttonbird, it has been harvested for food since the early days of white settlement. Even then people were fascinated by its numbers, and by its extraordinary life history. Matthew Flinders recorded sailing through a flock forty miles long. After World War Two Dominic Serventy (the author's brother) began the research program that became one of the great success stories of Australian conservation. Here is a bird "saved by slaughter", as sustainable production was the key. Today, Australia's twenty-three million short-tailed shearwaters are increasing their range north and west from their original stronghold of the islands of Bass Strait. The incredibly restricted egglaying season astonished the early harvesters. They also wondered at the chicks - lovingly reared by both parents, then deserted when they set off on an immense migratory flight to Alaskan waters - that were able to follow a few weeks later, with no parents to guide them. The story of the birds, and of the people who took part in this project, is told in this book. The work continues, a wonderful example of what can be done to conserve Australia's wildlife, it we care enough."

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The Petrels: Their Ecology and Breeding Systems

John Warham

Academic Press Inc

1990

The first volume of two volume study of Petrels. This volume summarises the biology of each family and examines comparative aspects of their breeding ecology. Contents include chapters on each family within the order, breeding biology introduction, the pre-egg stage, the petrel egg, incubation and the chick stage.

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The Manx Shearwater

Michael Brooke

Illustrations: Dafila Scott

Jacket painting: Peter Harrison

Poyser

1990

"For the better part of 17 years Michael Brooke has studied Manx Shearwaters at their Atlantic colonies. A number of expeditions have also enabled him to investigate at first hand other shearwater and petrel species in many isolated parts of the world. In this book he describes the fruits of his own and other research, synthesizing a wealth of data for the scientist and amateur alike. The breeding biology, vocal behaviour, transequatorial migrations and population dynamics of the bird are described in detail and comparisons are drawn with other shearwaters and petrels, to show how the various species have adapted to local conditions worldwide. Delightful vignettes by Dafila Scott complete this enthralling book."

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The Marine Ecology Of Birds In The Ross Sea, Antarctica

David G. Ainley, Edmund F. O'Connor, Robert J. Boekelheide

Ornithological Monographs 32

American Ornithologists' Union

1984

A 97 page study.

Contents:

  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Environment
  • Species Distribution And Numbers
    Emperor Penguin
    King Penguin
    Adelie Penguin
    Albatross.
    Southern Giant Fulmar
    Southern Fulmar
    Antarctic Petrel
    Cape Petrel
    Snow Petrel
    Antarctic Prion
    Blue Petrel
    White-Headed Petrel
    Mottled Petrel
    White-Chinned Petrel
    Sooty Shearwater
    Wilson's Storm-Petrel
    Black-Bellied Storm-Petrel
    Diving Petrel
    Brown Skua
    South Polar Skua
    Arctic Tern
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Trophic Reltions
  • Synthesis And Discussion
  • Summary
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Flight of the Storm Petrel

Ronald M. Lockley

Illustrations: Noel W.Cusa

Paul S Eriksson

1983

A study of 21 species of Petrels based on the authors research in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

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Southern Albatrosses and Petrels: An Identification Guide

P.C. Harper and F.C. Kinsky

Victoria University Press

1978

"A field guide to the albatrosses and petrels likely to be found in the southern oceans from Tropic of Capricorn to Antarctica."

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New Zealand Albatrosses & Petrels: An Identification Guide

Peter C. Harper and F.C. Kinsky

The Biological Society, Victoria University of Wellington

1974

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The Biology of Wilson's Storm Petrel

J R Beck & D W Brown

British Antarctic Survey

1972

A 54 page study of this species at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Includes maps,charts and 6 pages of Black & white photographs.

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The Fulmar

James Fisher

Collins

The New Naturalist Monograph 6

1952

A 496 page study of the Fulmar. 4 colour plates including a frontispiece of Fulmar at sea by Sir Peter Scott. Also includes black and white photographs.

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Shearwaters

Ronald M. Lockley

J M Dent & Sons

1942

238 page study of Shearwaters includes black and white photographs and sketches.

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Mutton Birds And Other Birds

H. Guthrie-Smith

Whitcombe and Tombs

1914

From the opening chapter: "From the date on which the first Moa bone was brought to England, the Avifauna of New Zealad has excited a peculiar interest. There was a romance of science in that paper where, against the advice of friends, Owen staked his reputation on the interpretation of a single bone; and more learned papers have perhaps been written about our Kiwis than about any other family of birds in the world. The enormous period of time during which New Zealand has been isolated, has given her birds time for a high degree of specialisation; and by scientific ornithologists our Dominion, small as is its extent, has been considered the most striking and most essential of the six regions into which the bird life of the world has been apportioned. Our birds will fit into no well-ordered groups: our Thrushes are hardly Thrushes, our Crows are hardly Crows, our Starling is hardly a Starling. The trusteeship of these rare creatures is in our hands, and it is worthwhile to consider to what extent the distinction has been deserved and the responsibility honoured. It is well also to consider what steps can be taken, even at this, the eleventh hour, to save our remaining species; and I should here like, firstly, to state my emphatic belief that this subject should be altogether removed from the field of sentiment, and secondly, to plead with Mrs. Gamp that if do call my fellow-citizens names it is only done to 'rouse them.' It may be at once admitted that humanity can survive without the rarer and more recluse birds. The race could exist without the more beautiful orders of flowering plants, without music, and without art, but if anything is true it is that 'man does not live by bread alone.' We do not most highly prize the necessaries of life, but rather the delicacies of taste and sight and hearing, - the pleasures of our leisure hours."

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A Monograph Of The Petrels (Order Tubinares)

Frederick Du Cane Godman

Colour plates: J.G. Keulemans

Witherby & Co

1907

From the preface: "My late friend and colleague Osbert Salvin for many years made a special study of the Order Tubinares, and together we collected specimens of Petrels from all available sources, thus amassing a large and valuable series, which, with the rest of our ornithological collection, numbering some 80,000 specimens, we finally presented to the Natural History Museum. It was Salvia's intention on the completion of the "Tubinares" for the twenty-fifth volume of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum, to write a fuller account of the Petrels, and publish it as a Monograph, illustrated by coloured figures of each species ; for that purpose we had some forty plates prepared by Mr. Keulemans, but Salvia's untimely death, in June, 1898, put an end to this project. Although naturally anxious to carry out my friend's intention, a good deal of extra work was now thrown upon my shoulders, and for some years I was too much engaged with the "Biologia Centrali-Americana" to embark on any fresh undertaking. As I hoped, however, at some future date to have more leisure, most of the remaining plates (106 in all) were drawn and coloured under my supervision, so as to be ready should opportunity occur. Having brought the unfinished volumes of the "Rhopalocera" and the "Aves" for the "Biologia" to a conclusion, my attention was again turned to the long intended Monograph, and with the able assistance of Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, of the Natural History Museum, I no longer hesitated to make a commencement. Professor Newton, one of our highest authorities on the Aves, writing to Sir Walter Buller, said, "All Petrels are puzzling in almost every way," and he goes on to say that though Salvin solved some of the puzzles, he doubted whether, in spite of the trouble he had taken and all the opportunities at his command, he would himself admit that he had completely disposed of all the difficulties of determination. Unlike my late colleague, I had made no special study of the Order, and had it not been for the promise of Dr. Sharpe's assistance, it would have been presumptuous in me to have undertaken so difficult a task. I have endeavoured to carry out the work on the lines projected by Salvin. Taking the Catalogue of Petrels as his guide, he proposed to omit the host of references belonging to the various species, and to quote only such as belonged to their history and distribution."

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Catalogue Of The Gaviae And Tubinares In The Collection Of The British Museum

Catalogue Of The Birds In The British Museum, Volume XXV

Gaviae (Terns, Gulls and Skuas): Howard Saunders

Tubinares (Petrels and Albatrosses): Osbert Salvin

8 colour plates: J. Smit

Printed By Order Of The Trustees

Sold by: Longman & Co.; B. Quaritch; Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.; and at the British Museum (Natural History)

1896

Preface:

"It has been a fortunate circumstance that for the preparation of the present Volume the cooperation of Mr. H. Saunders and Mr. 0. Salvin could be secured, who for many years past have made the Birds of the families of Gulls and Petrels the special subject of their respective studies. As also the collections formed by these gentlemen have been incorporated with the series in the British Museum, the latter possesses of both these groups a collection unrivalled as to its intrinsic value, if not also as to the number of species and specimens. According to the lists given, this Collection consists now of Gaviae 115 and Tubinares 109. Among the Tubinares only, some of the species (15) are not represented in the Collection. Beside the many friends and correspondents who have rendered material assistance in the preparation of this Volume by the loan or gift of specimens, and who "will be enumerated in the introductory remarks of the Authors, I have to refer specially to the authorities of the United States National Museum and to the Hon. W. Rothschild, of whom the former sent important types for comparison, whilst the latter placed the whole of his rich collection at the disposal of Ihe Authors. I have acceded with pleasure to the request of the Director of the Museum to see through the press this and the two remaining Volumes for which the arrangements were made during my term of office. Finally, this would seem to be an appropriate place to pay a tribute to the memory of Henry Seebohm, by whose death, on November 26th, Ornithology has lost a most earnest and ardent student and the British Museum one of its most generous friends and benefactors. For the past fifteen years he took a deep interest in the growth and arrangement of the Collection of Birds in the British Museum, contributing, without stint, either from his own Collection or by special purchase, any specimens that were required to complete the Museum series or to aid in the preparation of the Catalogue. In the latter work he took an active part as the author of the Fifth Volume, which treated of the Warblers and Thrushes. After presenting his immense Collection of Eggs, and incorporating it with that of the Museum, he undertook and completed a Manuscript Catalogue of the whole. By his Will he conferred his last benefit on the Museum, bequeathing to the Trustees the entire Collection which at the time of his death was still in his possession."
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Last updated December 2016