Bird · GBIF taxon 5229377
Yelkouan Shearwater
Puffinus yelkouanAlso known as Levantine Shearwater, Mediterranean Shearwater
Yelkouan shearwaters glide effortlessly just above the sea surface, banking sharply in stiff offshore winds to search for schooling fish. They nest in deep rock crevices and burrows on remote Mediterranean islands, returning to their colonies under the cover of darkness to avoid predatory gulls. Outside the breeding season, large flocks gather in the Black Sea and central Mediterranean to moult and feed.
PelagicSeabirdMigratory
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Anchovies
- Sardines
- Squid
Predators
- Invasive rats
- Feral cats
- Yellow-legged gulls
ThreatsInvasive island predators, fisheries bycatch, and coastal light pollution
HabitatsOpen seas, offshore coastal waters, and rocky island cliffs
Life span15–25 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyProcellariidae
- SpeciesPuffinus yelkouan
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by dark brown upperparts contrasting with pale underparts and rapid, stiff-winged gliding low over open water.
- Support conservation
- Maintain distance from breeding islands at night and report any disorientated fledglings found near coastal towns.
Responsible observation
- Pelagic Scans: Position yourself on high coastal headlands during windy weather to spot feeding shearwater rafts.
- Night Etiquette: Keep lights turned off near island breeding cliffs to prevent disorienting nocturnal adult birds.
Frequent Companion Close Relative 
Close Relative Martin Reith / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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