Albatross soaring over the ocean
Seabirds are identified by their various characteristics such as long necks, tube type beaks, and their wing tips. Each of these characteristics allows the bird to soar above the ocean or cliffs and dive for food they find in the water below.
Albatross (Diomedeidae)
The Albatross is a giant bird with a wingspan up to 11 feet across and can weigh up to 22 pounds. Their size is equivalent to a 6-foot tall man. They live up to 50 years and feed upon schooling fish and squid below the ocean's surface. Their tails are wedge shaped, and their bodies and head are white with black tipped wings and a pink bill. Adults mate for life and are known to fly up to 9300 miles in one day foraging for food.
Common Loon (Gavia immer)
Common Loon on the water
The Common Loon is an underwater hunter. They propel their bodies underwater to catch fish. Their bodies are 26 to 35.8 inches with a wingspan of 40.9 to 51.6 inches and weigh 88.2 to 215.2 ounces. Loons live in the water and only go to the shore during mating season and to incubate their eggs. They have a long pointed beak with a dark head and feathers that are edged in a light brown color making them look as if they have scales.
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
The Brown Pelican is the smallest of all the Pelican species. It grows up to 54 inches in length and weights between 8 to 10 pounds with a wingspan of 6 ½ feet to 7 ½ feet.
Flesh-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes)
The flesh-footed shearwater is black and brown with pink feet and beak. The feathers underneath their wings appear silver in color when they are flying. They live on the warm open ocean when it is not nesting season and nest on the islands and coastline. They have a wingspan of 99 to 107cm and are 40 to 47cm in length. They weigh between 510 to 750g.
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
The Horned Grebe has a stocky small grey body with a short black bill with a thin pale tip. The head is black, square shaped with yellow patches above each eye. They grow up to 9.5 inches in length with a wingspan of 24 inches.
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