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MarineCavity nestLarge · 453 g
What the Manx Shearwater sounds like
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Manx Shearwater
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is August, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Manx Shearwater
The map shades 39 countries with regular records, and 11 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, Mexico, Australia, Peru, Poland, Switzerland, Ecuador, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago.
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.
Easily confused with
Black-vented ShearwaterPuffinus opisthomelasBlack-vented shearwater adults are around 30–38 cm in length, have a 76–89 cm wingspan and weigh around 400 g.
Sargasso ShearwaterPuffinus lherminieriThe Sargasso shearwater is on average 30 cm (12 in) in length—about half the size of the great shearwater (Puffinus gravis)—and weigh 170 g.
Fluttering ShearwaterPuffinus gaviaThis is a medium to small-sized shearwater with a dark-brown-and-white body.
Side by side: Black-vented Shearwater vs Manx Shearwater · Manx Shearwater vs Sargasso Shearwater · Fluttering Shearwater vs Manx Shearwater
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