Barolo Shearwater

Identification

The Barolo shearwater is a small seabird that shares similarities with the Manx shearwater and other North Atlantic relatives, but several distinctive features set it apart. Look for a pale face with a strikingly dark eye, a silvery panel visible on the upperwings in flight, and notably shorter, more rounded wings compared to larger shearwater species. The blue feet are another useful identifying mark when birds are seen at close range.

Range & Habitat

This shearwater is endemic to Macaronesia, breeding on the Azores, Desertas, Savage Islands, and Canary Islands in the North Atlantic. The species' largest known colony, numbering around 1,400 pairs, is found on the Selvagen Islands. Outside the breeding season, Barolo shearwaters range across tropical and subtropical waters of the northeast Atlantic, making them a genuine pelagic species dependent on ocean conditions.

Behaviour & Diet

Barolo shearwaters are versatile foragers, feeding primarily on fish and cephalopods in the upper 15 metres of the water column. In the Azores, the paper nautilus (Argonauta argo) is their most commonly taken cephalopod, while fish from the genus Phycis dominate their fish intake. Unlike many seabirds, they show no preference for particular times of day when hunting or resting, though they appear more active in flight during daylight hours. They readily forage both day and night.

Best Time & Places to See It

The Azores and Canary Islands offer the most reliable opportunities to encounter Barolo shearwaters during the breeding season at their island colonies. Pelagic boat trips in the tropical and subtropical northeast Atlantic during the non-breeding season may also yield sightings, though these birds are primarily nocturnal visitors to their nesting sites. Early morning or dusk visits to breeding islands increase chances of observation.

Photography Tips

The pale facial markings and dark eye provide excellent contrast for photography. The silvery upperwing panels are most visible in flight, so photographing birds in air often reveals key field marks better than resting birds. Early morning light is ideal for capturing the subtle plumage details and the distinctive blue feet. Use a fast shutter speed to freeze wing movement and reveal the rounded wing shape that distinguishes this species from larger shearwaters.