Mediterranean Seabirds Guide: 12 Iconic Species with Pictures & Features

Mediterranean seabirds include the Mediterranean Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), the Mediterranean Corey's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), the Great Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), the European Cormorant (Gulosus aristotelis) and the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis), among many others.

Table of Contents

1. Yelkouan Shearwater

2. Scopoli’s Shearwater

3. Northern Gannet

4. Great Cormorant

5. European Shag

6. Audouin’s Gull

7. Yellow-legged Gull

8. Sandwich Tern

9. Razorbill

10. Red-breasted Merganser

11. European Storm-petrel

12. Parasitic Jaeger

1. Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan)

The Yelkouan Shearwater is a medium-sized seabird endemic to the Mediterranean. It breeds in noisy colonies on rocky islands and feeds on fish, cephalopods, and fishery discards. Known for its long lifespan, it has a low reproductive rate, laying just a few eggs per year.

2. Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)

Scopoli’s Shearwater is a large pelagic seabird breeding around the Mediterranean and wintering off West Africa. It preys on small fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, often following fishing boats. Nests are built in caves on islands, with just one white egg laid each year.

3. Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)

The Northern Gannet is one of the largest seabirds to visit the Mediterranean, especially in winter. It is white with a yellowish head, diving from great heights to catch fish. Gannets return to the same nesting colonies annually, producing only one chick per year.

4. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

A winter visitor to the region, the Great Cormorant has dark plumage and white patches on the face and throat. Its long neck and prominent bill make it an expert fish hunter. They are often seen drying their less-waterproof feathers while perched on rocks or logs.

5. European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis)

The European Shag is smaller and more slender than the Great Cormorant, found on rocky, inaccessible Mediterranean coasts. Population declines are due to overfishing, pollution, and fishing net accidents.

6. Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii)

Endemic and rare, Audouin’s Gull nests on remote rocky islands, especially in the Ebro Delta. Its diet is mainly pelagic fish and both terrestrial and marine invertebrates. This species prefers quiet areas away from urban centers.

7. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

The Yellow-legged Gull is the largest and most abundant gull in the Mediterranean, with strong adaptability. It inhabits a range of habitats from marshes and wetlands to cities and open sea, and is an opportunistic feeder.

8. Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

The Sandwich Tern is one of the most common terns in the region, forming dense and noisy breeding colonies. They are skilled at plunge-diving from 10–15 meters to catch medium-sized fish and are fully migratory.

9. Razorbill (Alca torda)

Razorbills are black and white seabirds, with a distinctive white line from the eye to the beak. Found mainly in northern Europe and along France and Britain’s coasts, they breed on cold, rocky cliffs and are agile underwater fish hunters.

10. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

This species is easily recognized by its shaggy crest and sexual dimorphism. Red-breasted Mergansers breed in mountainous and coastal vegetated areas, feeding mainly on salmon, perch, and carp.

11. European Storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)

The smallest seabird in Europe, the European Storm-petrel is dark, fast, and agile in flight, skimming the ocean’s surface for small crustaceans, cephalopods, and jellyfish. It nests in inaccessible rocky sites and lays just one egg per year.

12. Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)

The Parasitic Jaeger resembles a gull but has pointed wings and a hooked bill. Highly migratory, it is known for its kleptoparasitic habits—harassing other seabirds to steal their food—and fiercely defends its Arctic tundra or grassland nests.

Summary

These 12 seabird species are vital to the Mediterranean ecosystem and showcase the region’s unique biodiversity. Protecting these birds and their habitats is crucial for the health of Mediterranean marine environments.

animal tags： Mediterranean Seabirds