Many different types of birds fly over the ocean for migration, foraging, and other behaviors. Seabirds that spend most of their lives at sea are the most common birds found flying over the open ocean far from land. Here are some of the main types of seabirds that fly over the ocean:
Albatrosses
Albatrosses are large seabirds found across the Southern Ocean and North Pacific. They have very long, narrow wings that allow them to glide efficiently for hours without flapping. Some species, like the Wandering Albatross, regularly fly thousands of miles across the open ocean in search of food. Albatrosses use updrafts of wind over waves to gain altitude and soar over the ocean surface.
Petrels and Shearwaters
Petrels and shearwaters are medium-sized tubenosed seabirds that flap their wings continuously in flight. They include species like the Northern Fulmar, Cape Petrel, Sooty Shearwater, and Great Shearwater. These birds patrol the oceans, dipping down to grab fish, squid, and other prey. They have a highly efficient flying style and are capable of covering huge distances migrating between nesting and feeding areas.
Terns
Terns are coastal and offshore seabirds that plunge-dive for small fish. Species like the Arctic Tern, Common Tern, and Sooty Tern nest along coastlines but may fly far out to sea while migrating or foraging. Terns have long, pointed wings and streamlined bodies adapted for rapid, agile flight over the waves.
Skuas and Jaegers
Skuas and jaegers are predatory seabirds that chase other birds to steal their food. They have stout bodies and long, pointed wings. Species like the Great Skua and Parasitic Jaeger roam widely across northern oceans hunting for other seabirds to pirate fish from. They use both flapping flight and gliding while patrolling offshore waters.
Gulls
Gulls are common coastal birds that also fly offshore to feed, especially in winter. Species like the Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, and Lesser Black-backed Gull use both powered flight and soaring to travel long distances over the ocean. They feed on fish, squid, crustaceans, and other food snatched from the surface or stolen from other birds.
Frigatebirds
Frigatebirds are large seabirds found over tropical oceans. With their extremely long, pointed wings, they soar effortlessly high over the ocean and swoop down to snatch flying fish or harass other birds into dropping or regurgitating their prey. Great Frigatebirds and other species may wander far from land across vast stretches of open ocean.
Pelicans
Pelicans are coastal birds that also fly offshore to feed, especially in large flocks. The Brown Pelican of North and South America plunges headfirst into the ocean to catch fish. Other species like the Australian Pelican may fly long distances offshore to find concentrations of small fish to scoop up in their large pouches.
Cormorants
Cormorants are foot-propelled diving birds often found around coasts. The Double-crested Cormorant and Great Cormorant often fly miles offshore and dive into the ocean after fish and other prey. Cormorants have compact bodies and long, hooked bills for catching slippery fish.
Boobies and Gannets
Boobies, gannets, and other Sulidae are plunge-diving seabirds found across the world’s oceans. The Northern Gannet, for example, flies high over the North Atlantic spotting fish below, folding its wings back to plummet down and catch prey. Boobies like the Blue-footed Booby cruise low over tropical waters scanning for fish before diving in headfirst. Their streamlined bodies and long pointed wings make them powerful flyers.
Phalaropes
Phalaropes are small shorebirds that also spend time feeding at sea, especially in winter. Red Phalaropes and Red-necked Phalaropes spin in tight circles in the open ocean to stir up zooplankton and small fish from below. Their rapid, direct flight allows them to cover great distances migrating and foraging widely over ocean waters.
Skuas
Skuas are aggressive, predatory seabirds that chase other birds to steal their food. Species like the Great Skua and South Polar Skua have stout bodies and long, pointed wings adapted for speed and maneuverability over the waves. They range widely across northern and southern oceans looking for targets to harass.
Auks
Auks are a family of northern seabirds adapted for diving and swimming underwater in pursuit of fish and marine invertebrates. They flap their short wings rapidly on takeoff but are powerful flyers capable of covering long distances between nesting colonies and offshore feeding areas. Common auks seen flying over northern oceans include Murres, Guillemots, and Puffins.
Storm Petrels
Storm petrels are the smallest seabirds, feeding on tiny marine organisms at the ocean surface. Wilson’s Storm Petrel and other species flutter low over waves, pattering across the sea surface while picking plankton and small fish from the water. They are highly maneuverable flyers that nest on remote islands but wander widely over offshore waters.
Tropicbirds
Tropicbirds are graceful white seabirds found over tropical and subtropical oceans. With their elongated tail feathers and sharply angled wings, they fly powerfully through the air and plunge into the ocean after fish. Red-billed and White-tailed Tropicbirds nest on islands but may wander far out to sea hunting for prey.
Sheathbills
Sheathbills are unusual seabirds of the southern oceans that forage in flocks at sea. With their dove-like bodies and gull-like wings, they flutter low over the waves snatching up krill, fish, and other prey disturbed by penguins, whales, and seals. Sheathbills nest on sub-Antarctic islands but fly widely offshore to find food.
Swallows and Swifts
While most swallow and swift species inhabit land, some like the Cliff Swallow and Chimney Swift sometimes forage for aerial insects far out over coastal waters. Their scythe-shaped wings allow them to fly continuously for hours across large expanses of ocean on migration or while feeding.
Conclusion
In summary, a wide array of seabird species utilize the marine environment and cross vast stretches of open ocean in flight. Albatrosses, petrels, pelicans, gulls, terns, and many other families of birds are adapted for traveling long distances over water. Their specialized wings, feather structure, and streamlined bodies allow them to fly efficiently across wave surfaces for hours hunting fish, squid, plankton, and other prey.