Al Abbar, F. et al (2019): Observations of a leucistic Cory’s Shearwater off São Miguel Island

Fadia Al Abbar’s 2019 observation documented a leucistic Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) off São Miguel Island, Azores, during a whale-watching trip, providing insights into rare pigmentation conditions in seabirds.

Objectives

Document the observation of a leucistic Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) off São Miguel Island, Azores.
Analyze the physical characteristics and behavior of the leucistic individual in comparison to normally colored Cory’s Shearwaters.
Contribute to the understanding of leucism, its rarity, and its implications for seabird populations, particularly in the Atlantic region.
Provide baseline data to facilitate future re-sightings and further research on seabird pigmentation anomalies.

Impact

Here, the observed Cory’s Shearwater was identified as leucistic, with a loss of pigmentation from the feathers but removing normal coloration from bare parts (bill and eyes) from albinism.
Few documented cases of leucism occur in breeding colonies of Cory’s Shearwaters. This observation, however, provides important data on the occurrence of pigmentation anomalies in seabirds, and can be used to support future re-sightings and research of the genetic and ecological implications of leucism in this species.

Supported UN Global Goals

In Fadia Al Abbar’s 2019 observation, during her time at Futurismo Azores Whale Watching, a rarely observed leucistic form of Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) was sighted southwest of São Miguel Island, Azores. The study examined the opportunity afforded by whale watching trips for detailed information about rare pigmentation conditions in seabirds. The results so obtained contribute towards achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water), in which this work improves understanding of seabird biodiversity, supports conservation efforts and fosters shared partnerships for sustainable development and ecological awareness.