Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
The Manx Shearwater is a medium-sized seabird that can be seen in British waters, particularly around coastal areas and islands, with notable breeding colonies on islands such as Skomer and Skokholm off the coast of Wales. It is a migratory species that can be spotted in Britain during the summer months, although it is more commonly associated with the open ocean.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Manx Shearwater in the field.
The Manx Shearwater can be identified by its sleek, black upperparts, white underparts, and a distinctive black stripe that runs along its forehead, as well as its long, narrow wings and distinctive shearwater flight pattern. Its black and white colouration and slender silhouette make it a recognizable species at a glance.
The Manx Shearwater is slightly smaller than a Herring Gull, with a more slender build, making it a medium-sized bird that is larger than a Blackbird but smaller than a Common Gull.
The male Manx Shearwater has a black back and wings, with a white belly and white undersides to its wings, and a black stripe that runs above its eye, with no significant seasonal variation in its plumage.
The female Manx Shearwater has similar plumage to the male, with no notable differences in colour or pattern, making the sexes difficult to distinguish based on appearance alone.
The Manx Shearwater has a distinctive, high-pitched call that sounds like a loud, piercing "kee-kee-kee" or a shrill whistle, often heard at night or during the breeding season.
Manx Shearwaters are pelagic birds that feed on small fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, which they catch while swimming and diving in the ocean, and are known for their distinctive, gliding flight style, where they use rising air currents to stay aloft with minimal flapping.
The Manx Shearwater can be confused with other shearwater species, such as the Sooty Shearwater or the Balearic Shearwater, but can be distinguished by its black and white colouration, slender build, and distinctive forehead stripe, as well as its smaller size and more rapid wingbeat.
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