Many seabirds love space and can fly great distances. But among them there are those who do not dare to move away from the coast, preferring coves and beaches.
The life of these representatives of the avifauna is closely connected with the sea. Therefore, they are called marine. This group includes quite a few species. Some are sedentary, while others are migratory.
Albatross
It is the largest seabird in the world. The weight of the albatross can reach 13 kg, and the wingspan is 3.5 m. The combination of mass on such wings gives the effect of a natural glider. We can say that they were designed in the image of these birds.
The albatross hunts at night. Thanks to its long, strong beak bent at the end with a hook, it is able to easily swallow very slippery prey from the sea.
Flamingo
These birds live in lagoons, coasts and lakes, preferring shallow places. In Russia, they can be found at the mouth of the Volga, in the south of Siberia and in the North Caucasus. Flamingos feed on small invertebrates by filtering water with their large, downward-curved beak. They love shrimp, which gives their plumage a characteristic pink hue.
Oystercatcher
These seabirds travel in flocks along open coasts and estuaries in search of shells, small fish and crabs. They love to feast on bivalve molluscs, sticking their long beak between two slightly open flaps or drilling a shell if it is closed. In plumage, the bird is similar to its distant relative - the magpie. Its beak and legs are orange.
Crayfish plover
This bird has long legs like a stork. It lives on the sandy and muddy shores of the Asian and African coasts. The plover loves to eat crustaceans. She cuts them with a strong beak.
Auk
This seabird is easily recognizable by its thick beak with a white stripe. It is found only in the North Atlantic. In Russia, nests on Lake Ladoga and the Baltic Sea.
Avocet
She walks on long blue legs, prefers to eat small crustaceans. Its long black beak is bent upward.
Petrel
This bird has two tube-shaped holes on the top of its beak. The petrel is found off the shores of all oceans, but is more commonly seen in southern latitudes.
Curlew
The bird has a long, thin, curved beak. It is very convenient for catching insects, molluscs and worms.
Frigate
This is one of the representatives of the pelican. It also has a well-developed leather pouch on the lower part of its beak. However, the male inflates it only to attract the female.
Swimmer
The bird usually nests in fresh water bodies of North America, Iceland and Greenland. Migrating south, it spends the winter on the high seas, where it feeds on oceanic plankton. These birds can do without fresh water for a long time thanks to a special gland at the beak that filters salt.
