1. Marine Birds  Shorebirds –Live and feed on the coastlines –Have bills specialized for dealing with different kinds of food  Seabirds –Remain at sea for months at a time (pelagic) –Have many adaptations for life at sea

3. Seabirds Adaptations  Feathers are dark above and light below for camouflage from predators above and prey below  Have more feathers than other birds for extra waterproofing and insulation

4. Seabirds Adaptations  Flexible webbed feet for swimming or takeoff from water’s surface  Strong claws for fishing  Wings shaped for flight needs –Longer, more tapered for soaring for long periods with little effort –Some have shorter wings for better control and agility at the water’s surface

7. Seabirds Adaptations  Plunge divers have extra adaptations –Strong, tapered bills, air sacs for cushioning, thicker bones to withstand the impact

9. Seabird Behavior  Feed mostly on fish, squid, and crustaceans  Powerful fliers with little effort  Live much longer than regular birds (20-40 years, compared to 10 years)

10. Seabird Behavior  Colonial nesters –Nest in large groups in isolated places –Nurture their young for longer than typical land birds –May take young birds for several months at sea –Raise one egg per year

11. General Marine Bird Adaptations  Bills –Pelican’s bill acts like a scoop  Albatross has hooked bill to grip slippery prey  Curlews have long bills to catch burrowing animals

12. Marine Bird Feeding Habits  Plunge divers  Probing for food in the shallows  Catch prey from surface  Skimmers