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Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
Migration Flyway
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Last Spotted Near You
About the Manx Shearwater
The Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx shearwaters were called Manks puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word (Middle English pophyn) for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters. The Atlantic puffin acquired the name much later, possibly because of its similar nesting habits.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Puffinus puffinus
- Family
- Shearwaters and Petrels
- Order
- Procellariiformes
Similar species
Other members of the shearwaters and petrels family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Barolo Shearwater Puffinus baroli
- Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow
- Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata
- Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas
- Black-winged Petrel Pterodroma nigripennis
- Bonin Petrel Pterodroma hypoleuca
- Buller's Shearwater Ardenna bulleri
- Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
- Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii
- Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis
- Cook's Petrel Pterodroma cookii
- Cory's Shearwater Calonectris borealis
Know when the Manx Shearwater turns up near you
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Optics
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