Types of Mediterranean Seabirds

Also known as the Mediterranean shearwater, the Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) is a medium-sized species that is often confused with the related Mediterranean seabird known as the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus). It is endemic to the Mediterranean, nesting on islands and rocky islets in very noisy colonies. It feeds on fish and cephalopods, often feeding on the animals discarded by the fishing industry.

The Yelkouan shearwater has a relatively long life expectancy, living up to 25 years or even more. They have a few offspring per year, but this hasn't stopped them from threat. They are considered vulnerable according to the IUCN.

Another type of shearwater, but in a different genus, Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) is a large-scale seabird with pelagic habits. Pelagic birds are those which spend most of their lives at sea, away from the coast. The breeding populations of this Mediterranean seabird are found in Europe during the summer, but they migrate to western Africa during winter.

The Scopoli's shearwater also feeds on small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. They may hang around fishing trawlers for scraps. When they do make it to land, they usually nest inside caves on islands and islets, laying a single white egg.

With a slender white body and yellowish head, the northern gannet (Morus bassanus) is one of the largest seabirds in the Mediterranean region. They usually visit this area in winter. With its straight, pointed beak and folded wings, it dives from great heights to fish. It is a great migrator that returns to the same colony year after year. It searches out and uses the same nest again, laying a single egg annually.

Also known as the black shag or kawau, the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a winter visitor to the Mediterranean region. It is known for its dark plumage, although part of the face and throat whitish. It has a long neck and a prominent beak adapted to its piscivorous habits. It spends most of its time perched on rocks or logs, with its wings open to dry its plumage. This is because they are not as waterproof as some other Mediterranean seabirds.

Discover more about the types of piscivorous animals with our related guide.

Although the European or common shag (Gulosus aristotelis) shares a common name with the above, they are of a different genus to the black shag. This Mediterranean seabird is much smaller and slender than the great cormorant. They inhabit some of the most inaccessible rocky sites and cliffs on the Mediterranean coasts. Unfortunately, their populations have suffered a drastic decline due to overfishing of some of their prey, hydrocarbon pollution and accidents in fishing nets.

Endemic to the Mediterranean, the Audouin's gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) is a rare species to observe in the wild. It is linked to the coasts of islands and rocky islets in quiet areas far from large cities, although its main breeding colony is in the Ebro delta. Its diet is based mainly on pelagic fish and terrestrial and marine invertebrates.

Discover the different types of pelagic fish with our related guide.

The yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) is the largest gull in the Mediterranean and one of the most abundant. This is partly because adapts very well to different environmental conditions and is capable of consuming a wide variety of species. In this way, it is considered an opportunistic feeder. With a robust body and long yellow legs, it usually lives in marshes, salt flats, beaches, wetlands, offshore areas and even in large urbanizations.

Not named because it makes a good lunch, the Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) takes its name from the eponymous town in England. Its population spreads much further and it is one of the most abundant terns in the Mediterranean region. As with most terns, it forms very dense and noisy colonies.

It is characterized by its fantastic way of fishing that is similar to that of the Atlantic gannet. It plunges itself into the water directly in search of medium-sized fish from 10 to 15 meters high, acquiring great speed. All its populations are migratory.

Also known as the lesser auk, the razorbill (Alca torda) is a black and white Mediterranean seabird. It has a thin white line that extends from its eyes to the end of its beak. Its populations are distributed in Scandinavia, Iceland, the British Isles, France and Spain. They live in cold coastal places during the summer where there use their rocky cliffs to raise their chicks. It feeds on fish that it obtains through fast pursuits when diving.

Learn more about the sad fate of a closely related seabird with our article on why the great auk went extinct.

The red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) is easily identified by its ruffled crest and is one of the most common in the area. It presents sexual dimorphism since females usually have plumage with duller colors , similar to both male and female juveniles. It reproduces in mountainous areas as well as on marine coasts, archipelagos and lakes that have abundant vegetation. It feeds mainly on fish such as salmon, perch and carp.

Discover more about the habitats of Mediterranean seabirds with our article on what is an aquatic ecosystem?

The European storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) is a small seabird (likely the smallest in Europe) with a dark color. It has fast, erratic flight that follows the surface of the ocean. Their diet is based on small crustaceans, cephalopods, jellyfish and organic matter. It nests in rocky areas that are difficult to access, producing a single annual lay. Its main conservation problem is associated with colony predation by rats or introduced exotic species such as cats.

Known as the parasitic jaeger in North America, the Arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) is a gull-like bird with pointed wings and a hooked beak. It is a migratory species. It is known for its aggressive behavior towards other species of seabirds, which it can attack to steal food. This is a feeding behavior known as kleptoparasitism. During the reproductive season it is usually very territorial and defends its nests that it builds in the tundra or in herbaceous meadows in arctic areas.

Discover more about the habitat of this type of Mediterranean seabird with our article on what is a tundra ecosystem?

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