4 thoughts on “Sargasso Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri)”
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 2 February 2026. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 2 February 2026, when discussions will re-open.
Information has been coordinated and provided to BirdLife via email by W. Mackin in collaboration with other species/regional experts. Concern has been raised that the population on Long Cay, which harbours a significant breeding colony, has declined by approximately 50% based on qualitative observations from 1993-2013. As Long Cay is protected with no clear threats yet still undergoing declines, it has been suggested that other populations with known threats (e.g. invasive predators, development) are likely to be declining at a similar or greater rate.
The population is inferred to be declining, but there is currently insufficient information to suspect a rate of decline. Further quantitative information on population trends is required, preferably from several breeding colonies. Furthermore, there is evidence for the presence of other potentially large breeding colonies, the current status of which are unknown.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2026 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classification outlined in the initial forum discussion. However, there are ongoing efforts by W. Mackin and others to collate the required information on population sizes/trends which may allow a revaluation of this status in the near future.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 8 February 2026, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2026 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites later this year, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 16 February 2026.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Sargasso Shearwater is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching thresholds under Criterion B2b(ii,v).
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the 2026.1 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites later this year, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 2 February 2026. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 2 February 2026, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Information has been coordinated and provided to BirdLife via email by W. Mackin in collaboration with other species/regional experts. Concern has been raised that the population on Long Cay, which harbours a significant breeding colony, has declined by approximately 50% based on qualitative observations from 1993-2013. As Long Cay is protected with no clear threats yet still undergoing declines, it has been suggested that other populations with known threats (e.g. invasive predators, development) are likely to be declining at a similar or greater rate.
The population is inferred to be declining, but there is currently insufficient information to suspect a rate of decline. Further quantitative information on population trends is required, preferably from several breeding colonies. Furthermore, there is evidence for the presence of other potentially large breeding colonies, the current status of which are unknown.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2026 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classification outlined in the initial forum discussion. However, there are ongoing efforts by W. Mackin and others to collate the required information on population sizes/trends which may allow a revaluation of this status in the near future.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 8 February 2026, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2026 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites later this year, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 16 February 2026.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Sargasso Shearwater is recommended to be listed as Near Threatened, approaching thresholds under Criterion B2b(ii,v).
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the 2026.1 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites later this year, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.