New England Seabirds

This site is dedicated to the great world traveler the Wilson's Storm-petrel

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New England Seabirds

Clockwise from top: Black-capped Petrel (not seen in New England waters), Sooty Shearwater, Manx Sw., Band-rumped Storm-petrel, Wilson's SP, Leach's SP

What Is A Seabird?
Bird Check List
Shearwaters
Northern Fulmar
Storm-petrels
Jaegers and Skuas
Gulls
Pelagic Terns
Northern Gannet
Alcids
Phalaropes
Sea Ducks WIP

Southern Hemisphere Breeders
Birds that breed in the southern hemisphere come north during our summer to feed. These vacationers are seen during most of the summer. Examples are Greater Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, South Polar Skua, and Wilson's Storm-petrel. Pelagic birding is the only way to count these birds for your North American list.
Northern Hemisphere Breeders
Northern breeders visit the waters off our coast after the breeding season. These birds are more likely to be seen from August into winter. Examples are Cory's Shearwater, Leach's Storm-petrel, Red and Red-necked Phlarope, the Jaegers, and Great Skua. Some juvenile northern breeders feed off our coast throughout the summer. This is perhaps why we see Manx Shearwaters all summer long. Breeding seabirds are not easy to see on the breeding grounds so again the best way to count these birds is a pelagic trip.