Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
The Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a uncommon petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrel found in 50 countries, weighing about 453 g. The Manx shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae.
About the Manx Shearwater
The Manx shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx shearwaters were called Manks puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters. The Atlantic puffin acquired the name much later, possibly because of its similar nesting habits.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Manx shearwater is 30–38 cm (12–15 in) with a 76–89 cm (30–35 in) wingspan and weighs 350–575 g (12+1⁄2–20+1⁄2 oz). It has the typically "shearing" flight of the genus, dipping from side to side on stiff wings with few wingbeats, the wingtips almost touching the water. This bird looks like a flying cross, with its wings held at right angles to the body, and it changes from black to white as the black upper parts and white under sides are alternately exposed as it travels low over the sea. Voice: This shearwater is mainly silent at sea, even when birds are gathered off the breeding colonies. It calls on its nocturnal visits to the nesting burrows in flight, on the ground, and in the burrows, although moonlight depresses the amount of calling.
What the Manx Shearwater sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, Mexico, Australia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, with peak activity in August. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Manx Shearwater?
- The Manx shearwater is 30–38 cm (12–15 in) with a 76–89 cm (30–35 in) wingspan and weighs 350–575 g (12+1⁄2–20+1⁄2 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Manx Shearwater?
- The Manx Shearwater is a large sized bird weighing about 453 g.
- Where can you see a Manx Shearwater?
- The Manx Shearwater occurs in 50 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.
- What does a Manx Shearwater sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Manx Shearwater on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Manx Shearwater?
- The Manx Shearwater is most easily confused with the Black-vented Shearwater, the Sargasso Shearwater and the Fluttering Shearwater.
- Is the Manx Shearwater endangered?
- The Manx Shearwater is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Manx Shearwater for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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