Scopoli’s Shearwater

Scopoli’s Shearwater is a large shearwater of the Mediterranean, closely related to Cory’s Shearwater and formerly considered the same species. It is now officially recognised on the British list with multiple verified records, and separating it from Cory’s requires careful analysis of the underwing pattern in the field — Scopoli’s shows more extensive white on the primary bases. It is most likely to be encountered on pelagic seawatching trips off southwest Britain and Ireland in late summer and autumn.