Bird species profile
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
About the species
The Manx Shearwater is a medium-sized seabird with slender wings and a distinctive black-and-white plumage. It is renowned for its graceful, gliding flight just above the ocean waves. Breeding mainly in the North Atlantic, some individuals are seen off the Patagonian coast during migration. These birds nest in burrows on remote islands, emerging at night to avoid predators. Their haunting, nocturnal calls are a hallmark of their breeding colonies. The Manx Shearwater spends most of its life at sea, only coming to land to breed. Its remarkable navigation skills allow it to return to the same nesting site year after year, even after crossing entire oceans.
Habitat
Open ocean and coastal waters; nests on offshore islands with grassy slopes or cliffs.
Foraging
Feeds mainly on small fish, squid, and crustaceans, catching prey by diving and surface seizing.
