Scopoli’s Shearwater

Identification

Scopoli's shearwater is a medium-sized seabird measuring 45–52 cm in length with a wingspan of 112–122 cm. It is brownish-grey above with darker brown wings, while the underparts are predominantly white with a brown border most visible along the trailing edge of the wing. The bill is pale yellow with a distinctive dark patch near the tip, and the legs and feet are pale flesh-coloured. The sexes are similar in appearance, though males are on average slightly larger than females.

This species closely resembles Cory's shearwater, and the two can be challenging to distinguish in the field. A helpful identifying feature is that Scopoli's shearwater has more white on the underside of the primary feathers at the wingtip, particularly the outermost large feather. The Cape Verde shearwater, by contrast, is smaller and significantly darker above.

Range & Habitat

Scopoli's shearwater breeds on rocky islands and steep coasts throughout the Mediterranean, ranging from the Chafarinas Islands off the Moroccan coast in the west to the Dodecanese in Greece in the east. The species' largest colony is found on Zembra, a rocky island 13 km off the Tunisian coast, which contains between 141,000 and 223,000 breeding pairs—representing more than 75 percent of the global population. Other significant colonies occur on the island of Linosa in the Strait of Sicily and on the Balearic Islands.

Outside the breeding season, these birds undertake a remarkable migration to the Atlantic. After breeding concludes in late October, they migrate through the Strait of Gibraltar and disperse across Atlantic upwelling regions. Studies using light-level geolocators show that birds wintered either off the coast of West Africa in the Canary Current upwelling or further south in the Benguela Current off Namibia. They return to the Mediterranean at the end of February.

Behaviour & Diet

Scopoli's shearwater is primarily piscivorous but also consumes cephalopods and crustaceans. It forages by skimming over the water surface or engaging in surface feeding, and only rarely plunges completely beneath the surface. An opportunistic feeder, it sometimes follows whales and tuna to pick up food scraps and to catch small fish driven to the surface, and will also scavenge discards from fishing vessels.

Best Time & Places to See It

To observe Scopoli's shearwater during the breeding season, visit Mediterranean rocky islands and coastal areas between late February and October. The Zembra island colony off Tunisia offers the highest concentration, while the Balearic Islands and Linosa in the Strait of Sicily provide more accessible viewing opportunities. Outside the breeding season, the species is best encountered in Atlantic waters off West Africa and southern Africa.

Photography Tips

Photographing Scopoli's shearwater in its natural habitat requires patience and a good vantage point on or near breeding colonies during the breeding season. When at sea, look for the characteristic pale bill with dark tip and the white underparts with brown trailing edge visible in flight. The bird's skimming behaviour over water makes for dynamic action shots, though the underside of the wings—with their relatively white primary feathers—provide distinctive identification features worth capturing. Early morning light often renders the brownish-grey upperparts and white underparts in sharp relief.