ExploreBird

Manx Shearwater

Puffinus griseus

The Manx Shearwater is a seabird that glides gracefully over the ocean. It has a sleek body and long wings!

Habitat: Open oceans and coastal areas

Appearance

The Manx Shearwater has striking blackish-brown upperparts and pure white underparts, with a distinct line where the dark and light feathers meet. It possesses a slender body, long narrow wings, and a thin, dark bill with tube-like nostrils.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderProcellariiformesFamilyProcellariidaeGenusPuffinus

Manx Shearwater

Interesting facts

A single Manx Shearwater chick is raised by both parents who take turns flying far out to sea to hunt!

Despite their small size, Manx Shearwaters can live for over 50 years, making them very long-lived birds!

These incredible birds spend nearly their whole lives flying over the open ocean, rarely touching land!

When they return to their breeding islands, they often find the exact same burrow they used last year!

Special abilities

Manx Shearwater can 'fly' underwater using its wings, chasing fish far below the surface with incredible agility.

Manx Shearwater has an amazing internal compass, helping it find its way across vast oceans for thousands of kilometers.

Manx Shearwater has special glands that remove excess salt, allowing it to drink ocean water without harm.

Manx Shearwater can dig long burrows into soft ground on islands, creating safe nests for its chick.

Measurements & details

Length: 30-38 cm
Wingspan: 76-89 cm
Weight: 0.35-0.55 kg
Lifespan: 20-55 years
Top Speed: 60 km/h
Clutch Size: 1
Incubation: 47-55 days
Migration Distance: 16000 km

Diet & Feeding

Tiny fish, squid, and crustaceans make up their ocean meals.

Primary Foods

sardines
herring
sprat
squid
crustaceans

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eaten by

Great Black-backed Gull

Larus marinus

Gulls prey on chicks and eggs at breeding colonies.

eaten by

Brown Rat

Rattus norvegicus

Introduced rats can devastate eggs and chicks in burrows.

eaten by

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Foxes can prey on adults and chicks where they share breeding islands.

hunts

Atlantic Herring

Clupea harengus

A primary food source caught by diving and pursuit underwater.

hunts

Veined Squid

Loligo forbesii

Manx Shearwaters dive to catch this common squid species.

Traits

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Aerial

Discover amazing creatures that spend much of their lives soaring high above the ground, often using wings to fly! They might hunt, travel, or even sleep up in the sky.

Gliding

Watch as animals take a graceful leap and soar through the air without flapping their wings! They use special flaps of skin or body shapes to glide from one spot to another.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Aquatic

Discover amazing creatures that call water their home, whether it's oceans, rivers, or lakes! These habitats are full of incredible life.

Marine

Dive into the vast, salty waters of the ocean, teeming with an incredible diversity of life, from tiny plankton to giant whales! It's a watery wonderland.

Migratory

Follow incredible journeys across the world! These animals travel far and wide at different times of the year, often to find better food or warmer places.