Seabirds

  • Albatrosses
    • They are known for their long wingspans and ability to glide over oceans for hours without flapping their wings.
    • Example: Wandering Albatross, Black-browed Albatross.
  • Seagulls (Gulls)
    • Versatile scavengers are commonly seen near coastlines and human settlements.
    • Example: Herring Gull, Laughing Gull.
  • Pelicans
    • Large birds with a distinctive pouch for catching fish.
    • Example: Brown Pelican, Australian Pelican.
  • Cormorants
    • Diving birds with excellent swimming abilities.
    • Example: Great Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant.
  • Terns
    • Graceful, slender birds are often called “sea swallows.”
    • Example: Arctic Tern, Common Tern.
  • Puffins
    • Small, colorful seabirds nicknamed “sea parrots.”
    • Example: Atlantic Puffin, Horned Puffin.
  • Shearwaters
    • Long-distance migratory birds that skim the ocean’s surface for food.
    • Example: Manx Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater.
  • Petrels
    • Small seabirds with a distinctive fluttering flight.
    • Example: Storm Petrel, Giant Petrel.
  • Boobies
    • They are known for their striking coloration and diving skills.
    • Example: Blue-footed Booby, Red-footed Booby.
  • Frigatebirds
    • Large seabirds with forked tails and distinctive red throat pouches (in males).
    • Example: Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird.
  • Gannets
    • Spectacular divers that plunge into the sea from great heights.
    • Example: Northern Gannet, Australasian Gannet.
  • Skimmers
    • Birds with long, knife-like lower mandibles used to skim the water for food.
    • Example: Black Skimmer.
  • Jaegers (Skuas)
    • Aggressive seabirds often steal food from others.
    • Example: Parasitic Jaeger, Great Skua.
  • Kittiwakes
    • Small, cliff-nesting gulls with a soft, plaintive call.
    • Example: Black-legged Kittiwake, Red-legged Kittiwake.
  • Auks
    • Small, diving seabirds are often found in the colder regions of the northern hemisphere.
    • Example: Razorbill, Common Murre.