Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus (Brünnich, 1764)
MX
MANSH
460
Family: Procellariiformes > Procellariidae
This medium-sized sooty black and white seabird is a skilful navigator of the open ocean, but rarely seen on land.
Manx shearwaters are long-lived birds that typically glide on stiff wings low over the sea surface. They are nocturnal at their breeding colonies, which are often located in steep and inaccessible terrain at a few dozen localities, mostly located on our western seaboard.
Outside of the breeding season, these migratory birds winter in the South Atlantic, predominantly off Brazil and Argentina.
Identification
Manx Shearwater identification is often straightforward.
SONGS AND CALLS
Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Manx Shearwater, provided by xeno-canto contributors.
Call
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Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
POPULATION CHANGE
Most of the world population of this species breeds in the UK or Republic of Ireland. The first full survey was carried out during the 1998–2002 Census (Seabird 2000). Recent surveys of the main colonies in the UK suggest that the UK population has increased substantially since Seabird 2000, possibly by as much as 50% (JNCC 2022).
DISTRIBUTION
Manx Shearwaters breed in roughly 50 colonies, these tending to be located on steep grassy slopes on offshore islands, mainly along the western coastlines of both Britain and Ireland. However, they are wide-ranging during the summer with foraging individuals seen throughout the coastlines of Britain and Ireland.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
No. occupied in breeding season | 30 |
% occupied in breeding season | 1 |
No. occupied in winter | 47 |
% occupied in winter | 1.6 |
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK
% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11) | -31.4% |
% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +190% |
SEASONALITY
Manx Shearwater is a breeding season visitor, arriving in late winter/early spring and then widely reported in early autumn as birds depart for the southern hemisphere.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Manx Shearwater, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
SURVIVAL & LONGEVITY
View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report
Maximum Age from Ringing | 50 years 11 months 21 days (set in 2008) |
Typical Lifespan | 15 years with breeding typically at 5 year |
Adult Survival | 0.905 |
Juvenile Survival | 0.25 (to age 5) |
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
Ring size | F or E* |
Field Codes | 2-letter: MX | 5-letter code: MANSH | Euring: 460 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Research
Interpretation and scientific publications about Manx Shearwater from BTO scientists.
CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS
Causes of change
The long-term trend of Manx Sherwater is unclear due to the absence of Census data prior to 2000. The introduction of rats is believed to have caused the extermination of some colonies, although some colonies have continued to survive despite the presence of rats at low abundance (Lambert et al. 2015). Data suggest that the Manx Shearwater has recently prospered on islands where it continues to be present. The reasons for the recent apparent success of the species is unclear, particularly as these increases (should they be confirmed when the results of Seabirds Count 2015–2021 are available) are occurring at a time when other seabird species appear to be suffering declines which have been attributed to recent reductions in fisheries discards (Bicknell et al. 2013).
Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- How to prioritize rat management for the benefit of petrels: a case study of the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
- A cross-fostering experiment with Newell's race of Manx shearwater
- Effects of feline panleucopaenia on the population characteristics of feral cats on Marion Island
Read more studies about Manx Shearwater on Conservation Evidence >
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