Yelkouan and Balearic Shearwaters have recently been suggested as "at the cusp of speciation",
and there is a hybrid population on Menorca which clouds the issue. Both are quite different from Manx with which they were lumped at one time.
This is the only shot I have of either as I haven't visited the Mediterranean. Should they be retained as two species Balearic is Critically
Endangered and Yelkouan Vulnerable, the latter is 4-5 times more numerous.
Click on the photo to return to "petrels" or here for
HOMEPAGE
