Cape Verde Shearwater
NameCape Verde Shearwater
Common NameCape Verde Shearwater
Scientific NameCalonectris edwardsii
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)99
Length (cm)35.5
Weight (g)350
Plumage DetailsThe plumage is dark grey-brown on the upperparts, including the crown, nape, back, and upperwings. The underparts are pure white, creating a sharp contrast. It has a dark cap that extends slightly below the eye, and a pale, yellowish bill with a dark tip.
Vocalization / CallAt breeding colonies, typically nocturnal, they produce a variety of wailing, cackling, and croaking calls, often described as 'ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kow'. They are largely silent at sea.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeThe Cape Verde Shearwater breeds exclusively on the Cape Verde Islands. After breeding, it disperses widely across the Atlantic Ocean, with individuals recorded off the coasts of West Africa, Brazil, and occasionally North America.
Identifying FeaturesBicolored plumage (dark above, white below), Dark cap extending below the eye, Pale bill with a dark tip, Long, narrow wings, Characteristic stiff-winged gliding flight close to the water surface
Description
A medium-sized pelagic seabird, this shearwater exhibits a distinctive bicolored plumage with dark upperparts and white underparts. It is known for its graceful, stiff-winged gliding flight over the open ocean, often dipping into the waves to forage.
