1. Seabirds
CHAPTER 9 cont.

2. SEABIRDS: Definition… Only 3% of birds are considered “seabirds”
Birds that nest on land, but feed entirely or primarily at sea
True seabirds have webbed feet for swimming
Only 3% of birds are considered “seabirds”

3. SEABIRDS: Birds are hemeotherms and endotherms, aka, “warm blooded”
HOMEOTHERMS = keep body temp more or less constant regardless of the temp of the environment
ENDOTHERMS = organisms that retain some metabolic heat, which raises their body temp
(which means they can over-heat)

4. SEABIRDS:
Being warm blooded allows birds to live in a wide variety of environments…
BUT…
It also requires them to eat a lot of food to supply the energy required to maintain their body temp.

5. SEABIRDS and Adaptations:
Bodies are covered with waterproof feathers to conserve body heat
waterproofed by oil from a gland above the base of the tail
Birds “preen” by rubbing oil into their feathers with their beaks
Have light hollow bones for flight
Eggs w/ hard shells are even MORE resistant to water loss

6. Preening:

7. SEABIRDS: Penguins
Flightless, wings are modified into stubby “flippers” that allow them to “fly” underwater
Bones are denser to make diving easier
Have a layer of fat under the skin to protect against low temperature

8. Penguins…
Emperor penguins
Adelie penguin
Chinstrap penguin

10. SEABIRDS: Penguins
All but 1 of the 18 species of penguins live in Antarctica and the cold temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere
EXCEPTION: Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) which lives in the cold currents at the Equator

11. Galapagos penguin

12. SEABIRDS: Tubenoses
Have distinctive tube-like nostrils and heavy beaks that are usually curved at the tip
Spend months and even years at the open sea

13. SEABIRDS: Tubenoses Albatrosses (Diomedea)
They have wingspans of up to 11 feet! The
longest of any bird alive!

14. SEABIRDS: Tubenoses Shearwaters (Puffinus)
Puffinus puffinus

15. SEABIRDS: Tubenoses Petrels (Pterodroma)
Giant Petrel

16. SEABIRDS: Pelicans & Related Birds
Grouped together because of webbing between all 4 toes

17. SEABIRDS: Pelicans & Related Birds Pelicans (Pelecanus)
Have a unique pouch below their large beaks

18. SEABIRDS: Pelicans & Related Birds Cormorants (Phalacrocorax)
Are black, long-necked seabirds
Easily identified as they float low in the water, with only the neck above the surface

19. SEABIRDS: Pelicans & Related Birds Frigate birds (Fregata)
Have narrow wings and a long, forked tail
Seldom enter the water because the feathers are not very waterproof

20. SEABIRDS: Gulls & Related Birds
Gulls (Larus) make up the largest variety of seabirds
Predators and scavengers (will eat just about anything)

21. SEABIRDS: Gulls & Related Birds Terns (Sterna)

22. SEABIRDS: Gulls & Related Birds Puffins (Fratercula)

23. SHOREBIRDS: (Often included with seabirds…)
Shorebirds are defined as wading birds that do not have webbed feet
Live in inland waters as well as the sea

24. SHOREBIRDS: Plovers
Piping Plover

25. SHOREBIRDS: Sandpipers

26. SHOREBIRDS: Rails
Virginia Rail

27. SHOREBIRDS: Coots
Fulica atra

28. SHOREBIRDS: Herons
Blue Heron

29. SHOREBIRDS: Egrets
Snowy Egret

30. SHOREBIRDS: Ducks
Wood Ducks
Mallard Ducks

31. Feeding Strategies Among Seabirds
Pattering = feed just at the surface
(storm petrels)
Aerial pursuit = pursue other seabirds and
force them to regurgitate food (jaegars)
Aerial pursuit = skim fish from the
surface (frigate birds)
c. Dipping = (gulls)
j. Pursuit diving with feet = (cormorants)
g. & h. Pursuit plunging = entering the
water to catch prey (petrels & shearwaters)
e. & f. Surface plunging = (pelicans)
i. Pursuit diving with wings = (penguins)