Archive for the SEABIRDS Category

"Larus ridibundus” The common name of this species is inaccurate, as adult Black-headed Gulls have a chocolate-brown head in summer. In winter, this brown hood retreats and the birds have a largely white head with a dark spot behind the eye. Other distinguishing features include the prominentRead more →

"Phaethon rubricauda” The Red-tailed Tropicbird is similar to the more common White-tailed Tropicbird but is bigger, with a pure white body, red bill and a very thin red tail which is not always visible in flight. Mature birds have mostly white plumage with a conspicuous black stripeRead more →

"Phaethon lepturus” The White-tailed Tropicbird is the smallest of the tropicbirds, a group of elegant seabirds renowned for their greatly elongated tail streamers that extend from the wedge-shaped tail. Adult birds have mostly white plumage with long, white tail streamers. Tail feathers are visible while the birdRead more →

"Phoebastria nigripes” The only dark albatross of the northern Pacific Ocean, the Black-footed Albatross nests primarily on the Hawaiian Islands. It wanders widely across the northern Pacific for most of the year and is regularly seen off the west coast of North America. Watching an albatross flyRead more →

"Chionis albus” Omnivorous and opportunistic, the Snowy Sheathbill will take any seasonally available food. For the summer, regurgitated krill obtained by direct interference with penguins feeding chicks is the primary food but penguin & cormorant eggs, excrement and to a lesser extent, young chicks are also taken. Snowy Sheathbills pickRead more →

"Spheniscus mendiculus" Galápagos Penguins are the most northerly occurring of all the penguins and are the only penguin that crosses the equator. Galápagos Penguins are the third smallest of the world's penguin species as well. The word Penguin first appears in the 16th century as a synonym for the now extinct GreatRead more →

"Leucocarbo atriceps" The Imperial Shag  is a black & white member of the cormorant family native to many sub-antarctic islands, the Antarctic Peninsula and southern South America primarily in rocky coastal regions, but locally also at large inland lakes. It can dive as deep as 80 feet while foraging for smallRead more →

"Diomedea epomophora" The Royal Albatross is one of the great albatross species, with a wing-span in excess of 3 meters and weighing approximately 9 kilograms. The name albatross came from the Arabic word al-câdous or al-ġaţţās. This means "the diver" and later became English, also mixed with the PortugueseRead more →

"Sterna paradisaea" The Arctic Tern is a small bird with narrow wings and short legs. Their coloration varies depending on age & season. Newborns are gray or brown. Adults are gray to white in color during the breeding season. Their beak and legs are red and aRead more →

"Pelecanus erythrorhynchos" The White Pelican is one of the largest forms of aquatic birds. They are also the species of pelican that most people are familiar with in terms of their overall appearance. The name "pelican" comes from the Ancient Greek word pelekan (πελεκάν), which is itself derived from theRead more →