Yelkouan Shearwater
NameYelkouan Shearwater
Common NameYelkouan Shearwater
Scientific NamePuffinus yelkouan
FamilyProcellariidae
Wingspan (cm)75.5
Length (cm)32.5
Weight (g)425
Plumage DetailsThe plumage is dark sooty-brown on the upperparts, including the head, back, and upperwings, contrasting sharply with pure white underparts. The undersides of the wings are white with dark trailing edges and wingtips. It has a slender, dark bill and dark legs.
Vocalization / CallGenerally silent at sea, but at breeding colonies, they emit a variety of guttural, croaking, and cackling calls, often described as a series of 'ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kow' sounds.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeBreeds on islands and coastal cliffs throughout the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the central and eastern basins. It spends its non-breeding season primarily within the Mediterranean, though some individuals may disperse into the adjacent Atlantic.
Identifying Featuresdark brown upperparts, white underparts, stiff-winged flight, long, slender wings, dark bill
Description
A medium-sized shearwater, this species is characterized by its dark brown upperparts and clean white underparts. It exhibits a distinctive stiff-winged flight, often gliding low over the sea surface, and breeds colonially on Mediterranean islands and coasts.
