Newell's shearwater or Hawaiian shearwater (ʻaʻo), is a seabird in the family Procellariidae. It belongs to a confusing group of shearwaters which are difficult to identify and whose classification is controversial. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Manx shearwater and is now often placed in Townsend's shearwater. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
Region
Hawaiian Archipelago and central North Pacific
Typical Environment
Breeds in the Hawaiian Islands, historically on several islands with current strongholds on Kauai in steep, vegetated valleys. At sea it ranges widely over pelagic waters of the central North Pacific. It nests in burrows dug into soft soil under dense vegetation and returns to colonies strictly at night. At sea it frequents productive offshore waters, often along shelf breaks and upwelling zones.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Hawaiian shearwater or ‘Aʻo, it breeds only in the Hawaiian Islands and forages widely over the central Pacific. It nests in burrows on steep, forested slopes and visits colonies only at night. Major threats include light attraction and collision with powerlines, as well as predation by invasive cats, rats, and pigs. Conservation actions include predator control, shielding lights, and rescue of grounded fledglings.
Temperament
pelagic and wary, nocturnal at colonies
Flight Pattern
rapid, stiff wingbeats interspersed with low glides close to the waves
Social Behavior
Colonial nester in burrows, often in densely vegetated, steep terrain. Pairs are largely monogamous and show strong site fidelity, returning to the same burrow over years. Adults visit colonies after dark to reduce predation risk, and chicks fledge at night by launching down valley corridors.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
At night around colonies it gives wailing, braying calls and yelps; the onomatopoeic ‘aʻo call carries along valleys. At sea it is usually silent.
