Mutton birds, also known as short-tailed shearwaters, play an important role in Aboriginal culture and cuisine across Australia. However, for those unfamiliar with this unique seafood, more questions than answers often arise.Â

What are Mutton Birds?

Scientific name:Puffinus tenuirostris

Mutton birds, or short-tailed shearwaters, are medium-sized seabirds that belong to the procellariiform family of tube-nosed seabirds. Adults have dark brown plumage and measure approximately 35 cm in length with a 75 cm wingspan. They are distinguished by their short, thin bills and tails.

Mutton Bird Lifespan

Mutton birds have an impressive average lifespan of 20-30 years in the wild, with some individuals living up to 40 years. Their long lifespans allow them to return to the same breeding colonies year after year.

Where Mutton Birds Live

Mutton birds breed exclusively in southeastern Australia and Tasmania from September through April. Their main breeding colonies are found on islands off the coast of Tasmania and small coastal islands in southern Victoria, South Australia, and western Port Phillip Bay in Victoria.

Come late April, the mutton birds depart on one of the longest avian migrations in the world – flying over 22,000 km from their breeding colonies to spend the Northern Hemisphere summer feeding in the sub-Arctic regions of the Bering Sea, north Pacific, and Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia. They return faithfully to the same breeding locations the following spring.

Mutton Bird Migration

The annual migration of mutton birds is nothing short of extraordinary. After spending the Austral winter feeding at sea, they arrive weary but determined each spring to their coastal island colonies to breed. Displaying an incredible navigational ability, they traverse over 22,000 km each year between their Australian colonies and sub-Arctic feeding grounds.

Powered solely by flapping flight, mutton birds undertake what is likely the longest continual migration of any bird. They rely on the East Australian Current to efficiently transport them north after breeding and use coastal landmarks and memory to guide their return journey the following year. Truly, mutton birds demonstrate nature’s impressive feats through their dedication to this annual cycle.

Mutton Bird Beach

A key location along mutton birds’ migratory route is the iconic Mutton Bird Island in Tasmania. From September through April, this small granite island off Tasmania’s east coast transforms into a bustling city of birds. Hundreds of thousands of mutton birds arrive each spring to breed, court and raise their young before departing en masse once more.

The beaches of Mutton Bird Island become a writhing mass of birds as they come ashore. Pairs carefully select nesting burrows amid the dense crowds to deposit single eggs. For around 50 nights the adults take turns incubating while the other feeds at sea. Once hatched, the downy chicks sit tight in their burrows until ready to fledge, calling hungrily for their parents’ regular feeds.

By late April, the beaches empty out again as the last chicks take flight. The island falls eerily quiet once more until the following September when the cycle repeats. Mutton Bird Island offers a unique opportunity to witness one of nature’s greatest natural wonders – a true spectacle not to be missed.

Mutton Bird Aboriginal

Mutton birds hold enormous cultural significance for Australia’s Aboriginal people, particularly those from Tasmania and the southeastern regions. Several Aboriginal groups have traditionally harvested mutton birds and their eggs each spring as an important seasonal food source for ceremonies and trade.

Historically, the harvest was a major social event bringing coastal communities together. Strict protocols governed sustainable harvesting practices and distribution of the bounty according to clan boundaries. Special tools like bullroarers and whistles were used to coordinate large groups working together efficiently.

For the Palawa people of Tasmania, mutton birds remain integral to cultural practices like dances, songs, and storytelling that reinforce connections to the Country. Their migration reminds Aboriginal people that all is connected in the natural world. Several organizations now support revitalizing the mutton bird cultural traditions and building youth understanding of custodial responsibilities.

Mutton Bird Meat

When it comes to culinary uses, mutton bird meat has long been prized by Aboriginal groups and adopted into Australasian cuisine. Traditional cooking methods focused on slow-roasting whole birds in ashes or boiling to produce tasty, nutritious stews.

Modern home cooks still enjoy mutton birds boiled or roasted, often served with traditional “bush tucker” sides like crisp damper bread, island potato, or greens. Their dark meat resembles duck or gamebird in texture, with a delicate seafood flavor reminiscent of oysters or mussels. Fat from boiled birds adds richness to soups and sauces.

While an acquired taste for some, mutton bird meat offers a unique taste of Australia’s indigenous culinary heritage. Sustainably harvested, it remains a favorite coastal dish, especially in Tasmania and Victoria during the spring harvest season. With careful preparation, mutton birds make a healthy, low-fat addition to any seafood lover’s table.

FAQs

Can you eat mutton birds?

Absolutely, mutton bird meat is widely consumed as a seasonal indigenous delicacy across coastal southeast Australia and Tasmania. Traditionally harvested only during their spring breeding season when found in large numbers, mutton birds are most commonly boiled or roasted whole to produce tasty, nutritious meat similar in texture to duck or gamebird but with a distinctive seafood flavor. Their dark meat is low in fat yet high in protein, vitamins, and minerals – providing many health benefits when prepared and consumed correctly according to cultural traditions.

Why is it called mutton bird?

The name “mutton bird” is thought to have originated from early European settlers mistakingly identifying the birds’ dark plumage and mainland migration with domestic sheep. In reality, mutton birds are wild seabirds completely unrelated to any land mammal. However, the name stuck locally and remains their best-known title today, especially in Tasmania, where the mutton bird harvest is central to cultural practices. Their scientific name Puffinus tenuirostris translates to “thin-billed shearwater”, more accurately describing their true taxonomic identity as a tubenosed seabird.

What does a mutton bird taste like?

Muttonbird has a distinctive but delicate flavor compared to commonly eaten meats and seafood. Its dark meat most resembles duck or gamebird in texture but with a subtle seafood undertone reminiscent of mildly fishy flavors like oyster, mussel, or very fresh sardine. Properly prepared mutton bird is lean yet rich, with a golden brown exterior and moist, flaky interior. Its natural oils impart richness without being overly “gamey”. Traditional preparation methods like long slow boiling produce the mildest taste, accentuating the seafood qualities. Roasted mutton bird develops a crispy skin adding complexity. While an acquired taste, those open to new flavors enjoy mutton bird as a unique taste of Australia’s coastal Indigenous cuisine.

Do mutton birds fly?

Yes, mutton birds are fully capable flyers performing one of the longest known avian migrations annually. Each autumn, after breeding, mutton birds gather into vast moving wings as they depart Australian coastal colonies, powering themselves northwards solely by flapping flight over 22,000 km to reach their winter feeding grounds in the sub-Arctic North Pacific. Similarly, they fly non-stop back to the same breeding sites the following spring, guided by an innate navigational ability and coastal landmarks. Within their colonies, mutton birds use short flights to travel between nesting burrows and the ocean. Their long slender wings and streamlined bodies are perfectly adapted for prolonged soaring and gliding over vast distances with high energetic efficiency.

How long do you boil mutton birds for?

When cooking mutton birds, the traditional method is long, slow boiling which allows their flavors to fully develop while keeping the meat moist and tender. As a general guide, whole mutton birds should be boiled for 2-3 hours minimum. However, boiling time can vary slightly depending on the size of the birds. Check smaller birds after 2 hours by testing the leg meat with a fork – it should easily pull away from the bone but still hold its shape. Larger birds may take up to 3 hours to become perfectly cooked. You can also test for doneness by removing the outer leg bone – it should detach cleanly from the inner joint when ready. Proper boiling fully extracts nutrient-rich gelatin from the bones into the broth. Once fall-off-the-bone tender, boiled mutton birds can then be served hot or used in stews, soups, and sauces.