There are many different types of sea birds that live in coastal areas and oceans around the world. Some common names for sea birds include seagulls, terns, skuas, petrels, albatrosses, shearwaters, frigatebirds, boobies, cormorants, and puffins. The technical term for sea birds is “seabirds.” Seabirds are a diverse group of birds that are adapted to life within marine environments.
Seagulls
One of the most well-known types of sea birds are seagulls. Seagulls are medium to large birds with long wings, webbed feet, and typically have white and grey plumage. They are opportunistic feeders and are adapted to surviving around humans in coastal cities. Some common types of seagulls include:
- Herring gull
- Ring-billed gull
- Laughing gull
- Great black-backed gull
Terns
Terns are slender seabirds with long, pointed wings and deeply forked tails. Most terns are grey and white in color. Terns feed by diving to catch small fish and other marine prey. Common types of terns include:
- Common tern
- Arctic tern
- Roseate tern
- Least tern
Skuas
Skuas are heavily built seabirds with hooked bills and long, pointed wings. They often exhibit dark coloration with white patches. Skuas are known for their aggressive and predatory feeding behaviors. They will often harass other seabirds to steal their catches of fish. Examples of skua species include:
- Great skua
- South polar skua
- Pomarine jaeger
- Parasitic jaeger
Petrels and Shearwaters
Petrels and shearwaters are medium-sized tubenosed seabirds. They are agile fliers with long, narrow wings. These birds feed on fish, squid, and crustaceans while gliding low over the ocean surface. Some petrels and shearwaters include:
- Northern fulmar
- Cory’s shearwater
- Great shearwater
- Wilson’s storm petrel
Albatrosses
Albatrosses are very large seabirds with long, narrow wings adapted for soaring over the open ocean. They have large hook bills and feed on fish, squid, and krill. Some well-known albatross species are:
- Wandering albatross
- Black-footed albatross
- Laysan albatross
- Royal albatross
Frigatebirds
Frigatebirds are large seabirds with very long, slender wings and deeply forked tails. Males have bright red throat pouches that they inflate to attract females. Frigatebirds feed on fish and will often harass other birds to steal their food. Examples include:
- Magnificent frigatebird
- Great frigatebird
- Lesser frigatebird
Boobies
Boobies are large seabirds named for their blue feet and blunt bill shape. They feed by spectacular plunge diving to catch fish underwater. Common booby species are:
- Blue-footed booby
- Masked booby
- Red-footed booby
- Brown booby
Cormorants
Cormorants are medium-large coastal seabirds with hooked bills and short legs set far back on their bodies. They often perch with their wings spread out to dry. Cormorants hunt for fish by diving underwater. Some cormorant species are:
- Great cormorant
- Double-crested cormorant
- Pelagic cormorant
- Red-faced cormorant
Puffins
Puffins are stocky seabirds with colorful, oversized bills. They nest in burrows on rocky cliffs and feed their chicks small fish. Well-known puffin species include:
- Atlantic puffin
- Horned puffin
- Tufted puffin
Key Characteristics of Seabirds
While there is diversity among the many families of seabirds, they share some key adaptations that allow them to thrive in marine environments:
- Waterproof feathers to repel water and keep them dry and warm
- Long, narrow wings for gliding and soaring over the ocean surface
- Ability to excrete excess salt through specialized glands
- Nostrils that can close to prevent water entry when diving
- Webbed feet or lobed toes for paddling and swimming
- Pointed bills or hooked bills for catching fish and other prey
Threats Facing Seabirds
Many seabird populations around the world are threatened by a variety of human impacts. Some major threats include:
- Fisheries bycatch – seabirds getting tangled in fishing gear and drowning
- Invasive species – predation by rats, cats, and other invasive predators at nesting colonies
- Habitat destruction – loss of nesting sites and important coastal habitats
- Oil spills – seabird feathers get coated in oil, compromising insulation and waterproofing
- Plastic pollution – seabirds ingest plastic debris floating at sea
- Climate change – changing ocean temperatures impact food supplies
Many seabird conservation efforts are focused on protecting important breeding colonies, reducing fisheries bycatch, and minimizing human disturbance. With coordinated efforts, the long-term outlook for many seabird species can be improved.
Importance of Seabirds
Seabirds play important roles in the health of marine ecosystems. Some of the key reasons seabirds are ecologically important include:
- They are top predators that help regulate food webs
- They are sensitive indicators of changes in marine conditions
- They help recycle nutrients through guano deposits
- Some species are keystone species that shape habitat for other organisms when nesting
- They help with seed dispersal and pollination of coastal plants
In summary, seabirds occupy a wide array of niches throughout the world’s oceans and coasts. Protecting seabird populations is critical for maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.
Conclusion
Seabirds encompass an incredible diversity of species adapted to life in the marine realm. From majestic albatrosses to colorful puffins, seabirds come in many shapes and sizes, occupying niches from polar to tropical ecosystems. While they face numerous conservation threats, seabirds provide vital ecological services and inspire awe through their mastery of flight over the waves. With coordinated conservation efforts, the long-term outlook for many seabird species can be improved, ensuring their place in ocean ecosystems for generations to come.