[order] PROCELLARIIFORMES | [family] Procellariidae | [latin] Calonectris edwardsii | [authority] Oustalet, 1883 | [UK] Cape Verde Shearwater | [FR] Puffin du Cap-Vert | [DE] Gelbschnabelsturmtaucher-edwardsii | [ES] Not found | [NL] Kaapverdische pijlstormvogel
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Genus
Until recently the shearwaters were devided in two genera Calonectris and Puffinus, but based on dna-analysis Penhallurick and Wink (2004) have proposed a splitting of the shearwaters into three genera: Calonectris for the large shearwaters of the Northern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the waters around Japan, Ardenna for a group of large Southern Hemisphere breeders and Puffinus for the smaller shearwaters such as the Manx’ group, Audubon’s and Little Shearwaters. This new taxonomy is now widely accepted, but not by all and is stil subject of discussion.
Physical charateristics
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
| wingspan min.: | 90 | cm | wingspan max.: | 100 | cm |
| size min.: | 40 | cm | size max.: | 43 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 52 | days | incubation max.: | 55 | days |
| fledging min.: | 95 | days | fledging max.: | 100 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 1 | ||
| eggs max.: | 1 |
Range
Atlantic Ocean : East. It is considered locally common in Cape Verde, with large numbers frequently seen off the island of Raso4,5. The largest colonies are on Brava, Branco and Raso.
Habitat
Pelagic, breeding in cliff hollows, on offshore rocks, and under large boulders.
Reproduction
Arriving at colonies in late February to March after an absence of some three months, the birds nest in hollows in cliffs and offshore rocks, and under large boulders1,6. Egg-laying and incubation takes place from May to July, and the young fledge from late September to November. Its non-breeding pelagic range in the south Atlantic is poorly known. Females lay a single egg and incubation takes place from May to July, with the chicks fledging from late September to November. Following fledging, all birds stay at sea until the next breeding season
Feeding habits
As with other shearwaters, all food is taken at sea and consists of small fish, squid and other marine organisms.
Conservation
This species is listed as Near Threatened owing to its moderately small population and range size. The effect of hunting on the population is not known, and the species may warrant uplisting to a higher threat category when more data on its population size and trends are acquired.
Calonectris edwardsii is now considered a full species, having been split from Cory’s Shearwater C. diomedea. It is considered locally common in Cape Verde, with large numbers frequently seen off the island of Raso. The largest colonies are on Brava, Branco and Raso. Breeding is sparse on Santiago and Sao Nicolau, has never been fully established on Santo Anto (where the species is recorded as ‘common’ and the populations on Sal and Boavista amount to a few pairs only). The total population has been estimated to number c.10,000 pairs since 1988-1993; Branco and Raso together hold the majority of the population, with 5,000-7,500 pairs estimated in 1988-1993.
Calonectris edwardsii is now considered a full species, having been split from Cory’s Shearwater C. diomedea. It is considered locally common in Cape Verde, with large numbers frequently seen off the island of Raso. The largest colonies are on Brava, Branco and Raso. Breeding is sparse on Santiago and Sao Nicolau, has never been fully established on Santo Anto (where the species is recorded as ‘common’ and the populations on Sal and Boavista amount to a few pairs only). The total population has been estimated to number c.10,000 pairs since 1988-1993; Branco and Raso together hold the majority of the population, with 5,000-7,500 pairs estimated in 1988-1993.
Migration
Calonectris edwardsii is now considered a full species, having been split from Cory’s Shearwater C. diomedea. It is considered locally common in Cape Verde, with large numbers frequently seen off the island of Raso. The largest colonies are on Brava, Branco and Raso. Breeding is sparse on Santiago and Sao Nicolau, has never been fully established on Santo Antao (where the species is recorded as ‘common’ and the populations on Sal and Boavista amount to a few pairs only). The total population has been estimated to number c.10,000 pairs since 1988-1993; Branco and Raso together hold the majority of the population, with 5,000-7,500 pairs estimated in 1988-1993.
Distribution map
