Manx Shearwater

Puffinus puffinus

A small shearwater, it has long straight slim wings, and is black above and white below.

It flies with a series of rapid stiff-winged flaps followed by long glides on stiff straight wings over the surface of the sea, occasionally banking or ‘shearing’. It breeds in colonies in the UK, on offshore islands where it is safe from rats and other ground predators. Birds leave their nest sites in July, to migrate to the coast of South America, where they spend the winter, returning in late February and March.

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Discover more about the Manx Shearwater

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Related species

Guillemot Razorbill Storm Petrel

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Where to see

There are a few islands off the west coast of Scotland where they can be seen. Orkney and Shetland are good places to see Manx Shearwater

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When to see

You can see them during their migration in the spring and the autumn. During the breeding season you can see them on one of the islands.

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Did you know?

They are a very long lived bird with one bird found to have been 50 years old recorded in the UK.

Dolphin Icon Blue
Related species

Guillemot Razorbill Storm Petrel

Map Icon Blue
Where to see

There are a few islands off the west coast of Scotland where they can be seen. Orkney and Shetland are good places to see Manx Shearwater

Binoculars Icon Blue
When to see

You can see them during their migration in the spring and the autumn. During the breeding season you can see them on one of the islands.

Book Icon Blue
Did you know?

They are a very long lived bird with one bird found to have been 50 years old recorded in the UK.

Dolphin Icon Blue
Related species

Guillemot Razorbill Storm Petrel

Map Icon Blue
Where to see

There are a few islands off the west coast of Scotland where they can be seen. Orkney and Shetland are good places to see Manx Shearwater

Binoculars Icon Blue
When to see

You can see them during their migration in the spring and the autumn. During the breeding season you can see them on one of the islands.

Book Icon Blue
Did you know?

They are a very long lived bird with one bird found to have been 50 years old recorded in the UK.

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