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Writer's pictureThassos by Aldebaran

Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)

Updated: Mar 12, 2021

Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) Greek: ( Αρτέμης - Artemis) is a bird in the family Procellariidae currently considered conspecific with Cory's shearwater. It has no subspecies. The genus name Calonectris comes from Ancient Greek kalos, "good" and nectris, "swimmer" (καλή + νηκτρίς = κολυμβήτρια) . The specific diomedea refers to Diomedes, the mythical king. His wife was serially unfaithful while he fought at Troy, so he left to found a city in Italy. After his death, his distraught friends were turned into white seabirds. Scopoli's shearwater is a migratory species. It comes to the Mediterranean in March and leaves in October. It lays an egg in late May in galleries that are usually under rocks or bushes and spins it until July.

Scopoli's shearwater overwinters mainly in the South Atlantic Ocean. They do not select a specific area but are constantly moving. Recent research by satellite transmitters has shown that they orbit comfortably between Africa and South America, reaching as far as the North Atlantic before returning to the Mediterranean.

The nearest breeding colony in Thassos is located on the island of Lemnos. Birds often visit Thassos from May to Septemper to feed. You can often see and photograph them following the Kavala Prinos Ferry Line


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