Sooty Shearwater

Medium-sized, dark brown shearwater with silvery flashes on underwings. Narrow wings with quick, deep wingbeats. Widespread and common, especially in the Pacific; can sometimes be seen close to shore. Can be in massive flocks. Extremely similar to Short-tailed Shearwater, but Sooty is heavier and has straighter wings; also look for slightly longer bill and less rounded head. Brown plumage is reminiscent of Flesh-footed Shearwater, but Sooty is narrower-winged and has a smaller, all-dark bill.

Sooty Shearwaters are pelagic (open ocean) visitors and rare vagrants to Sri Lanka, seen mostly offshore during their non-breeding migration (August-October/April),

In the waters off Sri Lanka, which serves as a migration route and potential wintering area, the Sooty Shearwater's diet primarily consists of the small, schooling fish, squid, and crustaceans that are locally available. They are highly opportunistic and will feed on concentrated patches of prey in the open ocean.