Description
Cory's Shearwater is the largest sea bird that breed in Madeira Archipelago. It is a migrant bird with white underparts, long and slightly rounded wings and dark brown and grey upper parts. It has a greyish head with no marked cap and a yellowish thin bill. Cory's Shearwaters flight is relaxed low, very close to sea and weaving its body through the waves.
Distribution
In the Madeira archipelago this bird is present between March and October, for the breeding season. It spends the remaining months of the year on the high seas. Corys can be seen on all islands of the archipelago with Selvagens having the biggest number of birds per square meter. In Madeira Island it is common to hear them after sunset near the coastline all around the island.
Habitat
In Madeira, this species nest mainly in sea cliffs while in Selvagens it builds its nests on holes on the ground or under big rocks, but never too far from the ocean. Though the best habitat to observe this bird is on a seawatching trip
Breeding
Cory's Shearwaters build their nests in holes in rocky sea cliffs or burrows on the ground. It lays one egg on the unique annual brood, between May and June. Incubation period is 54 days and the chick leaves its nest by October.
