Photo © by katastrofa
Atlantic Ocean off Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera, Canary Islands, February 2019
- Calonectris borealis
Identification
Length 50-56 cm (19¾-22 in), wingspan 118-126 cm, weight 817-956 g.
Light brown upper parts, white below, yellow bill with dark subterminal band, broad wings held bowed, heavy build, leisurely flight style with fewer wingbeats than other shearwaters.
Similar Species
Photo © by Glen Tepke
Atlantic southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina, USA, August 2008
Scopoli's Shearwater shows a little less black in the hand of the underwing due to white inner webs on the primaries, has slightly smaller bill which is a little paler, and is overall slightly paler; the lesser overall size is not noticeable in the field. The average difference between these two forms is difficult to use because of much individual variation. Scopoli's Shearwater gives a two-note call while Cory's have a three-note call. More identification discussion in references [5], [6].
Cape Verde Shearwater is very similar, but slightly smaller and with a slenderer bill and relatively longer tail.
Great Shearwater is about the same size with darker wings and body, smaller bill is black, narrow straight wings, capped appearance, smudgy brown on belly (sometimes faint), and white collar.
Manx Shearwater is much smaller with blacker upperparts, and pure white belly and undertail coverts.
Balearic Shearwater is much smaller with browner underparts.
Distribution
Breeds Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, and eastward to Galicia (northwestern Spain) and the Berlenga islands off Portugal Outside breeding season ranges widely in Atlantic, but mainly in upwelling systems of the Benguela and Agulhas currents.
Taxonomy
Scopoli's Shearwater and Cape Verde Shearwater were formerly included in Cory's Shearwater.
Subspecies
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Breeds on rocky islands, steep cliffs and caves and spends the rest of its life at sea.
Behaviour
Breeding
Colonial breeders and ground nesters; 1 egg is laid.
Diet
The diet includes molluscs and fish.
Vocalisation
Gives a three-note call when in or near the colony.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2024. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v 14.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.14.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- BirdLife International
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- Identification essay about Cory's and Scopoli's Shearwater
- Identification essay about separating Cory's from Scopoli's shearwater
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Cory's Shearwater. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cory%27s_Shearwater
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
