Archive for the SEABIRDS Category

"Larus dominicanus" The Kelp Gull also known as the Dominican Gull, lives on the Antarctic Peninsula and most sub-Antarctic islands where it is resident year-round, generally in small numbers and are also broadly distributed throughout southern Africa, Australia, Asia and South America. This species gets its common name fromRead more →

"Larus argentatus" The well-known yodelling call of the Herring Gull conjures up pictures of the seaside perhaps more than any other sound. Herring Gull is not a particularly suitable name for this seabird for although it will eat Herrings, it will eat almost anything else. The Herring Gull hasRead more →

"Larus modestus" Although rather indistinct in appearance, the Grey Gull is unusual among gulls for nesting in the extremely arid & barren Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Its dark grey plumage is thought to be an adaptation to life in this hot, sunny place as the melaninRead more →

"Larus glaucescens" One gull species that is definitely worthy of recognition is the Glaucous-winged Gull, the most abundant gull in the Pacific Northwest. Found year-round along the Oregon, Washington, Canadian and Alaskan coastlines and during the winter all the way down to Baja, Mexico, these birds reallyRead more →

"Morus bassanus" The beautiful Gannet is rather unique since they can see forward with both eyes (binocular vision), something which not many bird species are capable of. The Gannet's supposed capacity for eating large quantities of fish has led to "gannet" becoming a disapproving description of somebody whoRead more →

"Aethia cristatella" Crested Auklets live at sea most of the year, only coming to land to breed. Nests are located on island coasts where sliding rocks form a rocky slope, with the largest boulders at the bottom and bare cliff at the top. Crested Auklets have short stubby bodiesRead more →

"Phalacrocorax carbo" Cormorants are members of the pelican family with all 4 toes on each foot webbed, which helps them in swimming and chasing fish underwater. Cormorants are rarely found far out to sea, preferring to fish near to the coastline and perch on rocks, jetties, cliffs orRead more →

"Uria aalge” It might be easy to mistake this bird for a penguin with its white belly, dark head and wings and upright posture, but the Common Murre is not related to penguins. The Common Murre gets its name for the purring sound it makes. Common Murres are seabirds thatRead more →

"Larus canus" The Mew Gull is a medium-sized gull most similar in appearance to the Herring Gull and often erroneously mistaken for them. The Mew Gull is distinct from most other gulls because of its green-yellow colored legs as well as a yellow bill with a black stripe onRead more →

"Macronectes giganteus"  Giant Petrels have 2 distinct color phases, white & dark. Dark-phase adults have a grey-brown body with white head, neck and brown speckled breast. Juveniles of dark-phase birds have a dark brown body with a dark brown iris. White-phase birds are completely white except for a fewRead more →