Birdsong field guide
Scopoli's Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea
A large, elegant pelagic seabird of the Mediterranean, characterized by its effortless dynamic soaring and distinctive pale bill.
What it sounds like
A haunting, rhythmic series of nasal, wailing notes often described as 'kway-kway-kway' or 'a-ow-a-ow'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Distinguished from the closely related Cory's Shearwater by more extensive white patches on the underside of its primary feathers.
- Equipped with specialized salt glands that allow it to drink seawater and excrete excess salt through its tubular nostrils.
- Highly philopatric, typically returning to the exact same nesting burrow and partner year after year.
- Capable of diving to depths of up to 15 meters to pursue squid and small fish, though it primarily feeds at the surface.
- Strictly nocturnal at breeding colonies to minimize the risk of predation from larger gulls and raptors.
Habitat
Pelagic open ocean and offshore islands with rocky crevices or soft soil for burrowing.
Range
Breeds across the Mediterranean Sea; winters primarily in the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Africa and South America.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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