Seabirds are a fascinating group of birds that spend most of their lives at sea, coming to land only to breed. They are supremely adapted to life on the waves, with waterproof feathers, powerful wings for flight, and webbed feet for swimming.
For birdwatchers, seabirds present a unique challenge. Since they spend so much time far offshore, seeing these birds often requires special effort such as chartering boats. However, coastal headlands, pelagic birding trips, and seabird colonies can provide exceptional opportunities to spot different types of seabirds.
Knowing a little about seabird identification, behavior, and preferred habitats can help birders know where and when to see the incredible diversity of these marine avians. Here is an overview of 14 types of seabirds for birdwatchers to look for:
Albatrosses
Albatrosses are among the largest seabirds, with wingspans stretching up to 11 feet. These ocean wanderers are powerful gliders that travel widely across the open ocean rarely flapping their wings.
Some good spots to see albatrosses include:
- Midway Atoll – Laysan and black-footed albatrosses
- Kaena Point, Hawaii – Laysan and black-footed albatrosses
- Cape Alava, Washington – Short-tailed albatrosses
- Bass Point, Australia – Wandering albatrosses
Key identification features: Large size, long narrow wings, large hooked bill, nostrils that face forward
Gannets
Known for their dramatic plunge dives for fish, gannets are large seabirds with pointed bills and long, narrow wings. They breed in noisy colonies on cliffs and offshore islands.
Some prime gannet watching spots:
- Bonaventure Island, Quebec – Northern gannets
- Cape St. Mary’s, Newfoundland – Northern gannets
- Bass Rock, Scotland – Northern gannets
- Point Lobos State Reserve, California – Brown boobies
Key identification features: Pointed bill, yellowish head (adult), plunge diving habit
Cormorants
Cormorants are common coastal seabirds that can be seen perching with their wings outstretched to dry. They propel through water using their feet and dive to catch small fish.
Great cormorant viewing areas include:
- La Jolla Cove, California – Brandt’s cormorants
- Sea Lion Caves, Oregon – Pelagic cormorants
- Jacksonville, Florida – Double-crested cormorants
- Quebec City, Quebec – Great cormorants
Key identification features: Small hooked bill, orange face patch, crucifix perching pose
Frigatebirds
With extremely long, pointed wings and deeply forked tails, frigatebirds are graceful and acrobatic fliers. Males have inflatable red throat pouches used to attract females. They snatch food from the ocean surface and lack waterproof plumage.
Some top spots to see frigatebirds:
- Dry Tortugas, Florida – Magnificent frigatebirds
- Genovesa Island, Galapagos – Magnificent frigatebirds
- Christmas Island – Lesser frigatebirds
- Heron Island, Australia – Great frigatebirds
Key identification features: Deeply forked tail, long slender wings, large throat pouch on males
Boobies
Boobies are striking seabirds named for their blue feet and bulbous bills. They feed by spectacular plunge diving and can be seen soaring on updrafts. Breeding adults have bright white undersides.
Great locations to spot boobies include:
- Laysan Island, Hawaii – Blue-footed, red-footed, and masked boobies
- The Galapagos Islands – Blue-footed, red-footed and masked boobies
- Sea of Cortez, Mexico – Blue-footed and brown boobies
- Dry Tortugas, Florida – Brown booby
Key identification features: Large bulbous bill, blue or red feet, pointed tail
Shearwaters
Shearwaters are medium-sized seabirds that fly low over the water on stiff, narrow wings. They flap their wings in a “shearing” fashion. Many species undertake enormous migrations.
Some prime shearwater watching spots:
- Monterey Bay, California – Sooty, pink-footed, and Buller’s shearwaters
- Skomer Island, Wales – Manx shearwaters
- Cape May, New Jersey – Cory’s, great, sooty and Manx shearwaters
- New Zealand – Flesh-footed, fluttering, and Hutton’s shearwaters
Key identification features: Narrow, stiff wings, rounded white rump patch, tubenose bill
Storm Petrels
Tiny storm petrels flutter over the ocean like bats, pattering across the waves on quick feet. They are strictly pelagic and well adapted to life on the wing. Storm petrels are highly attracted to lights at night.
Good spots to see storm petrels:
- Off Hatteras, North Carolina – Wilson’s storm petrels
- Cordell Bank, California – Fork-tailed storm petrels
- Galapagos Islands – Wedge-rumped, black, and Leach’s storm petrels
- New Zealand – New Zealand storm petrel
Key identification features: Very small with fluttering flight, prominent white rump patch, rounded wings
Tropicbirds
With extremely long tail streamers and brilliant plumage, tropicbirds are a striking tropical seabird. Their acrobatic aerial courtship flights are a spectacle to behold. They lay their solitary egg directly on the ground or cliff ledge.
See tropicbirds in:
- Midway Atoll – Red-tailed tropicbird
- Hawaii – Red-tailed and white-tailed tropicbirds
- Dry Tortugas, Florida – White-tailed tropicbird
- Galapagos Islands – Red-billed tropicbird
Key identification features: Very long central tail feathers, bold black/white plumage patterns
Skimmers
Unique open-billed skimmers fly with the lower mandible plowing through the water to snap up small fish. They breed in colonies and rest communally on beaches and sandbars.
Some excellent places to observe skimmers:
- South Padre Island, Texas – Black skimmers
- Cape May, New Jersey – Black skimmers
- Florida coasts – Black skimmers
- Mexico coasts – Black skimmers
Key identification features: Red and black bill with lower mandible longer than upper one
Terns
Terns are slender, graceful seabirds that plunge dive for small fish. Most species are migratory and breed in noisy colonies on coastlines worldwide. Many species have a black “cap” on the head.
Great locations to spot terns:
- Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts – Common, Forster’s, least and roseate terns
- Breezy Point, New York – Common and least terns
- The Galapagos – Elegant, noddy, and swallow-tailed terns
- Australia – Crested, Caspian, and fairy terns
Key identification features: Graceful appearance, lighter grey back/wings, forked tail
Jaegers
Jaegers are predatory seabirds that aggressively chase other birds to steal their food. They have a central tail projection and striking color patterns on their wings and body. Most species breed in the Arctic.
See jaegers at:
- Off Hatteras, North Carolina – Parasitic and pomarine jaegers
- Northern Alaska – Parasitic and long-tailed jaegers
- Sea of Okhotsk, Russia – Long-tailed jaegers
- North Sea – Great and Arctic skua
Key identification features: Central tail shaft, bold black/white wing patterns, marauding habits
Auks
Auks are a family that includes puffins, murres, guillemots, and auklets. Stocky and short-winged, auks dive underwater using their wings for propulsion. They nest in vast colonies on remote cliffs and islands.
Great auk viewing spots:
- Machias Seal Island, Maine – Atlantic puffins, razorbills, and murres
- Skomer Island, Wales – Atlantic puffins
- St Paul Island, Alaska – Thick-billed murres, tufted puffins
- Victoria, British Columbia – Rhinoceros auklet
Key identification features: Small wings, upright posture, some with brightly colored large bills
Phalaropes
Phalaropes are small shorebirds with lobed toes that enable them to swim effectively. Two species – red-necked and red phalaropes – spend the non-breeding season foraging at sea.
Look for phalaropes:
- Off California – Red phalarope
- Pribilof Islands, Alaska – Red-necked phalarope
- Open ocean – Red and red-necked phalaropes
- Great Salt Lake, Utah – Wilson’s phalarope (non-pelagic)
Key identification features: Thin straight bill, reddish neck ( breeding), lobed toes, dainty appearance, habit of spinning in circles
Seaducks
Seaducks, also called scoters, eiders, harlequin ducks, long-tailed ducks, and mergansers, spend winters and migration on coastal waters, bays, and estuaries. Males often have striking black-and-white breeding plumage.
Top spots for seaducks:
- Barnegat Light, New Jersey – Long-tailed duck, common eider, surf and white-winged scoter
- Homer Spit, Alaska – Harlequin duck, Steller’s eider, long-tailed duck
- Boundary Bay, British Columbia – Harlequin duck, bufflehead, Barrow’s goldeneye
- Lake Erie, Ontario – Long-tailed duck, common goldeneye
Key identification features: Stocky profile, large feet set far back, patterning of black, white, and grey
Pelicans
Large fish-eating pelicans have throat pouches used to scoop up and store fish before swallowing. Species like the brown pelican plunge dive for their prey, while others feed more cooperatively.
See pelicans in:
- Galveston, Texas – Brown pelican
- Monterey, California – Brown pelican
- Mallacoota, Australia – Australian pelican
- Florida’s inland lakes – American white pelican
Key identification features: Huge throat pouch, very large bill, gregarious feeding style
Gulls
Gulls are highly familiar but often challenging white and grey seabirds. They form large flocks along coastlines, lakes, and waterways worldwide. Many species have black wingtips as adults.
Top spots for interesting gulls:
- Homer Spit, Alaska – Mew, herring, glaucous-winged gulls
- Midway Atoll – Laysan, black-footed gulls
- Utah’s Great Salt Lake – California gull
- Belmar, New Jersey – Laughing, herring, ring-billed, lesser black-backed gulls
Key identification features: Grey or white body, variety of black/white wingtip patterns, stout bill
Seabird Watching Tips
To maximize your seabird sightings, follow these tips:
- Use a scope and binoculars – Details like feather patterning can be easier to discern
- Look for feeding flocks – Storms and tidal currents concentrate prey and birds
- Check ocean buoys – Birds perch on these to rest and scan for food
- Head offshore – Use pelagic birding trips to access deep water habitat
- Watch weather patterns – Winds concentrate seabirds closer to land
- Study field guides – Learn to recognize species before your seabirding adventures
- Be patient – Birds may pass quickly or be tricky to relocate in the waves
Conclusion
Seabirds are a fascinating and wildly diverse group of birds. By learning seabird identification and heading to coastal vantage points, birders can enjoy observing magnificent albatrosses, energetic storm petrels, plunging boobies and much more. Seabird colonies and pelagic trips offer close encounters with these marine birds. With some preparation and persistence, birdwatchers can experience the wonder of seabirds in their ocean realm.
14 Types of Seabirds for Birdwatchers can be an incredibly rewarding group of birds to observe for any birder. Their adaptations to life at sea, from wing shape to feather waterproofing, make them unique in the avian world. Birdwatchers willing to take to the ocean waves, scan from coastal overlooks, and study seabird identification will gain unforgettable experiences. Whether seeing a tiny storm-petrel fluttering in the trough of a wave or an albatross cruising by on seven-foot wings, seabirds showcase the beauty and behaviors of birds thriving in their marine environment.