Texas Pelagics

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Cory’s Shearwater

by | Jun 15, 2022

Cory’s Shearwater  Calonectris diomedea

Texas Coastal / Offshore Status: Rare to fairly common in spring & summer, common in summer and early fall in offshore Gulf of Mexico waters. Although both subspecies, C.d. borealis (Atlantic Cory’s) and C.d. diomedia (Scolopi’s Shearwater) have been documented off the Lower Coast. Photographic evidence suggests C.d. diomedia is the predominate subspecies.  Best months are July through October. Sometimes seen from land at South Padre Island or Boca Chica.

Habitat: offshore and pelagic waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Similar Species: Cory’s Shearwater most closely resembles Greater Shearwater. Cory’s differs from Greater by having a yellow bill, lack of contrast in crown, solid grayish brown nape, and a clean white underwing pattern. By contrast, Greater Shearwater has a black bill, dark cap, distinct white collar, and dark markings on underwing.

(1) TOS Handbook of Texas Birds; by Mark W. Lockwood and Brush Freeman (2005)
(2) Lower Texas Coast Status from Brad McKinney’s annotated checklist (updated 2009).

Seasonal Occurrence Graph

Texas Pelagics Sightings Distribution

This map shows the geographic distribution of Cory’s Shearwater found in Offshore Texas (and Gulf of Mexico)
Click on the box in the upper left of the map to view the map legend.
Click on each sighting symbol and the data label will appear showing the time, date and the number of birds seen.
Click on the symbol on the top right of the map to view a larger map.

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