Balearic shearwater

bird

Also known as: Puffinus mauretanicus

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

The Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is a species of seabird belonging to the family Procellariidae. These birds are known for their long wings and their habit of gliding low over waves. Balearic shearwaters nest in burrows on islands, and their breeding grounds are limited to five of the Balearic Islands.1

Unfortunately, the Balearic shearwater is classified as critically endangered. Threats to their survival include predation by cats, genets, rats, and peregrine falcons on their nesting islands. Additionally, at sea, they are often caught on fishing lines.1

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shearwater
auricularis) and the Balearic shearwater (P. mauretanicus), both also 33 cm in length, are classified as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List. Townshend’s shearwater faces the greatest threat of extinction of all shearwaters, because it breeds in a single location, Socorro Island, where many individuals are preyed…
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auricularis) and the Balearic shearwater (P. mauretanicus), both also 33 cm in length, are classified as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List. Townshend’s shearwater faces the greatest threat of extinction of all shearwaters, because it breeds in a single location, Socorro Island, where many individuals are preyed…
Read More