Photo: Julien Renoult / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Yelkouan Shearwater
Puffinus yelkouan
Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) — Seabirds & Tubenoses of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) is a member of the Procellariidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 497 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Procellariiformes
- Family Procellariidae Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
- Genus Puffinus
- Species yelkouan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 497 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Yelkouan Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Yelkouan Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) is a member of the Procellariidae family, within the order Procellariiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers AO islets of c, e Mediterranean and w Black Sea.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 497 g, with a wing length of about 22.9 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Yelkouan Shearwater?
The Yelkouan Shearwater is a large bird that weighs around 497 g.
Where does the Yelkouan Shearwater live?
The Yelkouan Shearwater is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering AO islets of c, e Mediterranean and w Black Sea, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Yelkouan Shearwater belong to?
The Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) belongs to the Procellariidae family, in the order Procellariiformes.
What does the Yelkouan Shearwater eat?
The Yelkouan Shearwater hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Yelkouan Shearwater migrate?
The Yelkouan Shearwater is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Yelkouan Shearwater endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Yelkouan Shearwater make?
1 real field recording of the Yelkouan Shearwater — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Yelkouan Shearwater's range?
The Yelkouan Shearwater has a mapped global range of about 3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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