Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
PROCELLARIIDAE Members: Scopoli's Shearwater 12267
General Comments
The Scopoli's Shearwater was split off from Cory's Shearwater by the AOS (formerly AOU) in 2024; it was formerly considered as a subspecies, breeding on islands in the Mediterranean Sea. (The Cory's nests on islands in the eastern Atlantic, just off Europe and northwestern Africa.) The common name is pronounced as "SKOP-oh-leez", with the accent on the first syllable. Unfortunately, the "Scopoli's" taxon was not brought to the public's attention, as occurring in the state's waters, until well into the 21st Century, especially with the publication of Howell's 2012 book titled "Petrels, Albatrosses & Storm-Petrels of North America", where he included numerous photos from NC waters and suggested that it should be a full species. It is easily confused with the Cory's Shearwater, but Scopoli's has a slightly thinner bill, slightly lighter build overall, and has more white in the underwing tip, often with a white "tongue" on the outer primary feather. These are difficult to discern in the field and are best checked on photographs.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
S3N
Global Rank
GNR
Coastal Plain
Offshore visitor, being uncommon to at times common in the warmer months, from May into Oct, and perhaps as early as Apr. Numbers generally increase later on, in Aug-Sep. Typically found with Cory's, in the Gulf Stream; Cory's outnumbers Scopoli's by maybe 5-1 during the warmer months. As with most pelagic birds, the majority are seen from trips off Hatteras and thus it might be less common farther south in the Gulf Stream. A few are seen from shore at Cape Hatteras Point, though data are murky owing to the recent split. Peak counts: 305, off Hatteras Inlet, 5 Aug 2023; 300, off Hatteras Inlet, 6 Oct 2018.
Piedmont
No records.
Mountain
No records.
Finding Tips
You will want or need to take an organized pelagic trip to see this, as photographs might be required to confirm the species; the more photographers on a boat the better!