Cape Verde Shearwater
Calonectris edwardsii
The Cape Verde Shearwater (Calonectris edwardsii) is a rare petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrel found in 10 countries, weighing about 535 g. The Cape Verde shearwater, or cagarra locally, is a medium-large shearwater, a seabird in the petrel family Procellariidae.
About the Cape Verde Shearwater
The Cape Verde shearwater, or cagarra locally, is a medium-large shearwater, a seabird in the petrel family Procellariidae. It is endemic to the Cape Verde archipelago of Macaronesia in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of West Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Cape Verde shearwater has a slim, dark bill, with head and upperparts darker than Cory's. The flight is more typically shearwater-like than Cory's, with stiffer and more rapid wing beats. The overall appearance, compared with Cory's, is of a smaller, slimmer and more angular bird.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, Portugal.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in April. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Cape Verde Shearwater?
- The Cape Verde shearwater has a slim, dark bill, with head and upperparts darker than Cory's. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Cape Verde Shearwater?
- The Cape Verde Shearwater is a large sized bird weighing about 535 g.
- Where can you see a Cape Verde Shearwater?
- The Cape Verde Shearwater occurs in 10 countries, including Cape Verde, Argentina, Senegal, Trinidad & Tobago and Guadeloupe.
- What birds look similar to a Cape Verde Shearwater?
- The Cape Verde Shearwater is most easily confused with the Streaked Shearwater and the Scopoli's Shearwater.
- Is the Cape Verde Shearwater endangered?
- The Cape Verde Shearwater is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Cape Verde Shearwater for real
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