Coastal Areas

Europe’s jagged, irregular coastline provides many nesting places for seabirds. Millions come ashore in the summer to lay their eggs and raise their young. Although steep cliffs are dangerous for young birds, it is harder for predators to reach them. There is also safety in numbers—many seabirds crowd together in huge, noisy colonies made up of thousands of birds. Different species, such as guillemots, kittiwakes, gannets, and fulmars, may nest together on the same cliff. Each nests at a different level, sharing the small amount of space available. Unlike land birds, seabirds do not need a large feeding area or territory on land to gather food for their chicks. They feed mainly out at sea so they can nest close together on land.

Large, powerful wings for gliding and soaring

Long, strong legs for running and webbed feet for swimming

Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) Length: up to 2 ft 7 in (79 cm) Great black-backed gull

This large gull is a fierce hunter, taking a wide variety of prey, from fish and seabirds to rabbits. In the summer breeding season, it attacks seabird colonies on the coast, gulping down a chick in a single mouthful. At other times of year, it scavenges for scraps on trash piles inland and around fishing ports and beaches.

Little terns are graceful and agile in flight, sometimes hovering over the water.

Long, pointed wings beat quickly up and down.

Common murre

The common murre, or guillemot, spends a lot of time far out at sea. To catch fish, it dives below the surface, beats its wings rapidly, and steers with its feet. It only comes to the coasts to breed, forming dense colonies on cliff ledges. The birds are usually packed so close together that they touch their neighbors. The common murre lays a single egg on bare rock, without a nest, so one parent always has to stay and protect the egg and chick and keep them warm while the other goes off to sea to feed.

Common murre (Uria aalge) Length: 1 ft 5 in (43 cm)

Streamlined shape helps the bird move fast through the water.

Little tern

Bustling colonies of little terns gather on sandy beaches in summer. Members of the colony may help each other dive-bomb enemies and drive them away. Young terns have to learn the best places to fish and how to dive headfirst into the water like their parents. Unfortunately, the number of these terns have decreased because of people disturbing them.

Little tern (Sternula albifrons) Length: 11 in (28 cm) Sharp, pointed bill for gripping fish

European storm-petrel

The European storm-petrel is the smallest European seabird. Fluttering above the water, it picks up small fish and plankton from the surface. This petrel will often follow ships to feed on the scraps thrown overboard and may shelter near ships during storms. It nests in colonies, mostly on isolated islands because it cannot defend itself easily.

Narrow, pointed bill for seizing fish

As it feeds, the bird’s legs dangle down so it looks as if it is “walking” on water. Slim, hooked bill

European storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) Length: 7 in (18 cm)

Manx shearwater

On dark nights, the wails and screams of shearwaters returning to their nesting burrows sound spooky. They gather in huge groups called “rafts” near the coast, waiting for darkness before coming in to land. This helps them avoid attack by enemies, especially great black-backed gulls.

Baltic sea

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Common murrE

manx shEarwatEr littlE tErn

atlantiC puffin

grEat blaCkbaCkEd gull

atlantic

ocean

Stiff, straight wings allow it to glide close to the water.

Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) Length: 1 ft 3 in (38 cm)

b r i t i s h i s l e s north sea

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SAFETY IN NUMBERS

More than 95 percent of the world’s seabirds, such as these puffins, nest in large groups called colonies. Predators are less likely to attack a colony, which contains thousands of birds, so the birds’ eggs and young have a better chance of survival. The birds in the colony also warn each other of approaching danger. Some birds fly off the nest to attack an enemy; others sit on their nests and make a lot of noise.

Loire

Douro Garonne

E U R O P E

Gannets breed in vast colonies of more than 200,000 pairs. They usually remain faithful to one partner.

corsica APPENNINES Sharp edges on the top bill and spines on the tongue help hold up to 50 small fish at a time.

SARDINIA

Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) Length: 3 ft 3 in (1 m) M E D I T E R R A N E A N sea

Streamlined body shape enables gannets to dive like a torpedo into the sea.

SICILY

Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) Length: 1 ft 2 in (36 cm)

Northern gannet

To catch fish, the gannet makes spectacular dives into the sea, often from great heights. Its strong skull helps it withstand the impact of hitting the water and its nostrils can be closed off underwater. It uses its stout bill to grasp prey, such as fish and squid, and drag it to the surface. During the breeding season, the birds nest very close together. After about 14 weeks on the nest, the chicks head out to sea. They do not develop their final adult colors for five to six years.

Atlantic puffin

The puffin feeds on fish that it catches underwater. It has webbed feet and small wings, which it uses like fins to propel itself through the water. In the breeding season, the puffin develops a larger, more powerful bill to attract a mate. The bill is also used to dig a nesting burrow in a grassy cliff-top. When it has grown its feathers, the young puffin leaves its burrow under cover of darkness to avoid predators.

The webbed feet spread out like brakes to slow the puffin down as it comes in to land.