Nest-cavity characterisation and selection by the Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) at Rdum tal-Madonna, Malta

Abstract

The yelkouan Shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan, is a medium-sized sea bird belonging to the order Procellariformes, and is endemic to the Mediterranean basin. Malta holds between 4.5 - 11.5% of the European (world) population, which is estimated to stand at between 13,000 - 33,000 breeding pairs. The yelkouan shearwater has only been recently elevated to a species rank as it was previously considered a subspecies of the Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus. Due to this, study of this secretive bird has been very limited.