Where does the Scopoli's Shearwater live?
Calonectris diomedea
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Open the appThe Scopoli's Shearwater lives in specific habitats and regions. Knowing where, and when, to look improves your chances of a successful sighting.
Biomes
Marine, Pelagic, Coastal
Geographic range
Breeds primarily on islands and coastal cliffs in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean (e.g., Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira). Non-breeding range extends across the Atlantic Ocean, reaching as far as the coasts of South America (Brazil, Argentina) and South Africa.
Preferred environments
Open ocean waters for foraging, and remote, predator-free islands or cliff faces for breeding. They prefer areas with strong winds for efficient gliding flight.
Elevation range
Sea level to coastal cliff nesting sites.
Where to look
Pelagic Waters
Best observed from pelagic birding trips in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic, especially around breeding islands.
Coastal Cliffs/Islands
Breeding colonies are found on remote, rocky islands and steep coastal cliffs in the Mediterranean (e.g., Balearic Islands, Malta, Greece, Italy) and eastern Atlantic (e.g., Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira). Access to colonies is often restricted to protect nesting birds.
Migration Routes
Can be seen offshore along the coasts of Western Europe, West Africa, and South America during migration periods.
Field tips
- Pelagic Trips. Join organized pelagic birdwatching tours that venture into offshore waters where these birds forage. Look for them following fishing boats.
- Night Observation (Breeding Colonies). If visiting islands with breeding colonies, listen for their distinctive calls at night. Observing them coming ashore or leaving at dawn/dusk requires careful, non-intrusive approaches and often permits.
- Scan the Horizon. When at sea, continuously scan the horizon with binoculars for their characteristic gliding flight. They often fly low over the water.
- Look for Feeding Frenzies. Scopoli's Shearwaters often congregate with other seabirds and marine mammals at feeding frenzies, indicating a good food source.
Migration
Long-distance migratory species. After breeding in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, most populations migrate to the South Atlantic for the non-breeding season (austral summer), returning to breeding grounds in spring.
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