Birds Active day and night

Manx Shearwater

Puffinus puffinus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The ultimate Atlantic voyager, the Manx Shearwater spends its life bridging the gap between the ocean's surface and secret island burrows. Witness the nocturnal life of these incredible marathon migrants.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 30-38 cm (12-15 in); Wingspan: 76-89 cm (30-35 in); Weight: 350-450 g (12-16 oz)

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Colors

Contrast of soot-black upperparts and bright white underparts; dark gray bill and pinkish-gray legs

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Key Features

Sharp contrast between black back and white belly
Long, narrow wings held stiffly during flight
Deeply hooked dark bill
Nests in underground burrows
Shuffling, belly-sliding movement on land

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours 10 PM - 3 AM (on land); Daylight hours (at sea)

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Season March-September

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Diet Small shoaling fish such as sand eels, herring, and sprats, as well as squid and crustaceans caught by surface-seizing or short pursuit-dives.

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Habitat Open ocean for most of the year; remote, predator-free islands and coastal cliffs for breeding.

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Where Does the Manx Shearwater Live?

The Manx Shearwater is a native of the North Atlantic, with its primary breeding strongholds located on the rugged islands of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland. During the northern summer, they can be found across the maritime regions of Western Europe and the eastern coast of Canada. As autumn approaches, they undertake a staggering 10,000-kilometer migration across the equator to winter off the coasts of South America, particularly Brazil and Argentina, making them one of the most well-traveled species in the Atlantic basin.

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8 Countries

25M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

GB United Kingdom Ireland Iceland FR France BR Brazil AR Argentina CA Canada PT Portugal

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Manx Shearwaters are masters of the air and sea, known for their incredible "shearing" flight where they tilt from side to side, barely skimming the wave tops with their wingtips. They are highly gregarious at sea, often forming large groups called 'rafts' just offshore before darkness falls. Because they are vulnerable to predators like Great Black-backed Gulls, they have evolved a strictly nocturnal schedule when visiting land, arriving at their breeding colonies only under the cover of pitch darkness.

On land, they are remarkably clumsy due to their legs being positioned far back on their bodies—an adaptation that makes them elite swimmers but poor walkers. They communicate with haunting, rhythmic, and guttural cackling calls that can make a nesting colony sound quite supernatural at night. Despite their awkwardness on terra firma, they are one of the longest-lived bird species, with some individuals recorded reaching over 50 years of age.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Manx Shearwater on camera requires a specialized approach because you won't find them in a typical suburban backyard. If you live near a coastal cliff or a known island colony, place your camera within a few feet of a burrow entrance. These burrows are usually located in soft, grassy turf or among rocky scree. Set your camera low—about 6 to 12 inches off the ground—to capture their unique shuffling gait as they enter and exit their underground homes.

Night vision is the most critical feature for this species. Since they are strictly nocturnal on land, you need a camera with high-quality infrared (IR) LEDs that won't startle the birds but will provide crisp black-and-white imagery in total darkness. Use a high-sensitivity trigger setting, as these birds can move surprisingly quickly when they scramble from the air into the safety of their burrows to avoid predators.

Video mode is highly recommended over still photos to capture their vocalizations and social interactions. If you are monitoring a colony, the peak activity occurs during the darkest hours of the night, especially on overcast nights when there is little moonshine to guide predators. Ensure your camera is well-secured against high coastal winds and salt spray, using a protective housing if necessary.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Manx Shearwater.

Balearic Shearwater

Brownish-grey underparts rather than pure white, and a more 'dirty' appearance on the flanks.

Atlantic Puffin

Much shorter wings, a rounder body, and a distinctive colorful, parrot-like beak.

Sooty Shearwater

Larger and almost entirely dark brown/black without the clean white belly of the Manx.

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Frequently Asked Questions

On land, Manx Shearwaters are exclusively nocturnal, typically active between 10 PM and 3 AM to avoid predators. At sea, they are active during the day, foraging and 'rafting' on the water.

You generally cannot attract them to a typical backyard unless you live on a coastal island or a cliffside within their breeding range. They do not visit bird feeders and require specific maritime habitats.

Their diet consists of small oily fish like sand eels and sprats, which they catch by diving from the surface or 'flying' underwater using their wings.

No, they are highly specialized seabirds. They are only found on land at remote coastal breeding sites and spend the rest of their lives on the open ocean.

While they both nest in burrows, the Manx Shearwater is sleek and black-and-white with a long dark bill, whereas the Atlantic Puffin is stockier with a brightly colored, triangular beak and different flight patterns.

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