Balearic Shearwater

The Balearic Shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It was long regarded a subspecies of the Manx Shearwater; see there for more on the Puffinus puffinus superspecies; following an initial split it was held to be a subspecies of the Mediterranean Shearwater for nearly ten more years, until it was resolved to be a distinct species, separate from the Yelkouan Shearwater . It is the last taxon of the puffinus complex that was recognized as a separate entity.

The Balearic Shearwater is classified as Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It was long regarded a subspecies of the Manx Shearwater; see there for more on the Puffinus puffinus superspecies; following an initial split it was held to be a subspecies of the "Mediterranean Shearwater" (Sibley & Monroe 1990) for nearly ten more years, until it was resolved to be a distinct species, separate from the Yelkouan Shearwater (Wink et al. 1993, Heidrich et al. 1998, Sangster et al. 2002). More

Balearic Shearwater, Isles of Scilly Balearic Shearwater, Isles of Scilly Photo: Gary Thoburn * Species of Concern * Seabirds * Sea Turtles * Marine Mammals * Highlighted Species * Blackbrowed Albatross * Dugong * Leatherback * Harbor Porpoise More

For the purposes of our bird news services, Balearic Shearwater is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance. More

Balearic Shearwater with which its winter range overlaps, since the latter species is brown above and dirty white below. It is very similar to the black-and-white Manx Shearwater of the Atlantic, and stray birds out of their usual range are very difficult to identify with certainty. Also, at least one mixed breeding colony of the Yelkouan and the Balearic Shearwater exists on Minorca. More

The Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) was long regarded a subspecies of the Manx Shearwater. It is now recognised as a distinct species. It has less contrasting plumage, so it's colour change is from dark-brown to dirty white as it's upper and below parts are alternately exposed in it's flight across the sea. Balearic Shearwater records in the Western Isles Vagrant / Rare Visitor June - September. More

Balearic Shearwater, south of France, 2-May-99 Balearic Shearwater, south of France, 2-May-99 Balearic Shearwaters, from pelagic boat trip south of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (Bouche-du-Rhone, France), 2nd May 1999 You might also be interested in... More

Apart from the less contrasted plumage, Balearic Shearwater is very similar to Manx and Yelkouan Shearwater found elsewhere in the Mediterranean. The two Mediterranean forms were previously regarded as races of Manx Shearwater but they were given full species status in the early 1990's under the collective 'Mediterranean Shearwater'. More recently, all three forms are regarded as separate species. Earliest: September 12th 1988 off New Passage. Latest: Highest Count: One on one date. More

shearwaters which includes the Balearic Shearwater (Austin 1996) and one to three prehistorically extinct taxa, Hole's and possibly also Olson's Shearwater and an undescribed form of unclear distinctness from Menorca (Alcover 2001). The two living Mediterranean lineages had probably separated before the end of the Pliocene (c.2 mya), as indicated by molecular differences and putative direct ancestor of the Balearic Shearwater, the Ibizan fossil Puffinus nestori from the Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene (Heidrich et al. 1998). More

Balearic shearwaters forced into UK waters for food = By Paul Eccleston Published: 12:01AM BST 16 Oct 2007 Balearic shearwaters are the only European seabird classified as 'critically endangered'Balearic shearwaters are the only European seabird classified as 'critically endangered' Warmer sea temperatures brought by climate change are driving a rare and endangered seabird into British waters in search of food. More

BALEARIC SHEARWATERS off Britain in 2009 - UK400ClubRareBirdAlert (Free subscription)12/02/2009 Balearic Shearwater photographed off the Isle of Wight (Kris Gillam) The SeaWatch SW website has recently been updated, including all the news from August and September 2009. To view this month's news see: http://www.seawatch-sw. More

A balearic shearwater in flight A balearic shearwater. Pic Bryan Thomas Endangered bird seeks shelter in Devon - Devon's rocky coastline is becoming an important habitat for a globally threatened bird. A recent survey found a significant proportion of the world population of the Balearic shearwater at Berry Head. A globally threatened species of bird that uses South West coastal waters is to be formally surveyed for the first time. More

Balearic Shearwater is considered critically endangered with extinction by the IUCN. This is a gregarious species, which can been seen in large numbers from boats or headlands, especially on in autumn. It is silent at sea, but at night the breeding colonies are alive with raucous cackling calls, higher pitched than the Manx Shearwater's. The Balearic Shearwater feeds on fish and molluscs. It does not follow boats. http://en.wikipedia. More

Balearic Shearwater has to be separated from the similar-sized and much more common Manx Shearwater. Darker individuals also need to be distinguished from the larger Sooty Shearwater, which is a late summer and autumn visitor to our coasts from its breeding islands in the southern hemisphere. The solutions Size and shape In size and shape Balearic Shearwater resembles Manx Shearwater, although in fact it averages about 10 per cent larger. More

recording of the Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater in UK and Irish waters. Data collected between 2007 and 2009 are already feeding into ongoing conservation efforts, led by RSPB and Birdlife International at both a national and international level. We are grateful to all observers who have provided us with records, and urge anyone who sees a Balearic Shearwater in the UK and Ireland in 2010 to contact us with details of the sighting, and/or submit their record to Birdguides. More

The Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus is listed as Critically Endangered in the 2009 IUCN Red List. It has a tiny breeding range (the Balearic Islands; Mallorca, Cabrera, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera) and a small breeding population (est. 2,000-2,400 pairs) which is undergoing a rapid population decline due to interactions with introduced mammals and commercial fisheries. More

Balearic Shearwater, south of France, 2-May-99 pardela-do-mediterraneo | Balearic Shearwater Locations for recordings with GPS coordinates page 1 Balearic Shearwater call Puffinus mauretanicus (0:21) Miguel McMinn Grive XC40961 26-03-2009, Spain page 1 © 2005-2010 Xeno-canto Foundation. More

Biscay (note that Balearic Shearwater is referred to as ‘Mediterranean’ Shearwater). The site also has a guide to cetacean ID. http://www.terra.es/personal5/arbmor/arbsf019.htm Spanish site with several photos of Balearic Shearwaters taken in the western Mediterranean, and comparison with Yelkouan Shearwater (confusingly referred to as ‘Mediterranean’ Shearwater!). http://www.seawatching.net/ Excellent site for anyone interested in seabirds and sea mammals, has lots of useful photos. Focuses on the Macaronesian Islands but useful for anyone in Europe. More

Balearic shearwater in flight Balearic shearwater in flightPrint factsheet Facts - Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Procellariiformes Family Procellariidae Genus Puffinus (1) Status - Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on More

The Balearic shearwater has been considered until recently a sub-species of the Levantine shearwater breeding on islets from the Aegean to the Balearic Sea. Since scientists identified the Balearic shearwater as a singular and distinctive species, its conservation value has greatly increased due mainly to its limited geographic distribution, restricted to the Balearic Islands. More