96. Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)

Manx Shearwaters breed in burrows on island cliffs in the north Atlantic, and winter on the sea throughout the Atlantic. They are the most familiar shearwater for most UK residents, I remember seeing my first ones at a young age from the ferry to Ireland when going there on holiday. They are a medium-sized shearwater and fly low over the water on stiff wings, alternating shallow flapping with long glides. They are most similar to the Yelkouan and Balearic Shearwaters but those two species lack the Manx's white crescent extending up from the throat behind the eye.

Manx Shearwater, ©Cristián Pinto, via Flickr Creative Commons.

Manx Shearwater sketch.