This section showcases sea birds that are like any other birds we see, but are specifically adapted for life in the marine realm. Sea birds are capable of very long flights, have dense and waterproof feathers, webbed feet, and more layers of fat than the average non-marine bird. They also live longer, on average. They hunt at sea and come back to the land to breed and nest. Fun fact : sea birds have their very own desalination plant - glands in their bodies that filter out excess salt!
Anant Pande
( Chroicocephalus ridibundus )
You can spot them in habitats close to the water, they are migratory species and visit the Indian coast in the winters.
The black-headed gull can grow up to about 44 cm long. These birds tend to change their feather colours depening on the season. In the summer, they have a brown-black head, a white coloured body with black tips on the wings along with a red bill or beak. In the winter, you will spot them without the black head and instead just having two black spots, which is how you are most likely going to see them.
Insects, fish, seeds, worms and other invertebrates.
Anant Pande
( Stercorarius maccormicki )
A migratory species, spotted in the winter time along the coast.
The south polar skua can reach a maximum length of about 53 cm. They are greyish-brown on the upper half of the body while having a whitish-brown head and lower half. These birds are notorious for their trait of stealing food from other birds.
Fish make up majority of their diet. However, they have been recorded feeding on rabbits and dead animals as well.
Anant Pande
( Oceanites oceanicus )
You can spot them in the summer time along the Indian coast. hey are birds that conduct seasonal migration.
A small bird, reaching only about 18.5 cm, they have quite a long wingpsan when compared to their body size. These birds are dark brown in colour with a white area on the back near the tail and whitish on the sides. These are some of the most widespread and abundant bird species in the world.
Feed on planktonic organisms on the ocean surface and also on small fish.
Al Badush
( Tringa nebularia )
Spotted along the coast and fresh water areas close to the coast in the winter months.
As birds change their feather colours seasoanly, the common greenshank are usually brown in colour. However, when frequenting the Indian coast during the winter months they are more greyish. These birds have long green coloured legs which give them their name and a long bill wit a grey base. You are also to see a small white area on their back when they are in flight. These species can grow up to about 30-35 cm in length and have a wing span of about 70 cm.
Small invertebrates, frog, fish and insects.
Al Badush
( Tringa totanus )
Found along coasts on rocks, sandy beaches and lagoons. You can also find them in freshwater ecosystems close to the coast during the winter months.
In the winter which is when you would spot them along the Indian coast, they display a plain grey-brown colour above and white below. They have red legs and a red bill with a black tip. When flying you are able to see white on the back and on their wings. They can grow up to about 30 cm.
Feed on insects, worms, molluscs, crustaceans and fish.
Al Badush
( Dromas ardeola )
Found along the Indian coasts and islands. You are likely to spot them in large groups.
Growing up to about 40 cm in length along with a wingspan of about 65 cm. These birds have long grey coloured legs, a black bill and a long neck. The feathers display a black and white colouration, with them being mostly white except for black on its back and on the wings. They are known to be quite loud and hence making them unmissable.
Crabs, crustaceans, molluscs worms and invertebrates in the intertidal zone.
Al Badush
Al Badush
( Haematopus ostralegus )
Found along the Indian coasts in the winter time.
The eurasian oystercatcher can grow up to about 40-45 cm with a wingspan of a maximum length of 85 cm. They display a black and white colouring and red legs. They have strong red bills used for smashing open molluscs, which is the reason for their name. Specifically, they have white patches on their wings and tail with black being more prominent on the upper half of their body and white on the bottom.
They feed on oysters, mussels and worms.
Al Badush
( Numenius phaeopus )
You can find them along the coast and ecosystems associated with the coast in the winter months.
The eurasian whimbrel can grow up to about 47 cm in length with a wingspan of about 90 cm. Their feathers are greyish brown with a white back. Their beak is long and curved. They are considred to be quite social and are migratory birds that visit the Indian coast in the winter months.
Feeds on small invertebrates like crabs.
Al Badush
( Pluvialis squatarola )
You can find them along the coast and ecosystems associated with the coast in the winter months.
The grey plover is a bird with a short, thick neck. Like most sea birds they change their colour with the season. When they frequent the Indian coast in the winter time they appear grey coloured on the upper half of their body with a grey speckled chest and a white belly. The colour under their wings is black. Grey plovers can reach a maximum length of about 30 cm with a maximum wing span of 83 cm.
Molluscs, polychaete worms, insects and crustaceans.
Al Badush
( Sula dactylatra )
Found along the Indian coast and on islands.
A bird, quite large in size the masked gannet can reach a maximum length of 85 cm with their wings spanning about 170 cm. They have a long pointed bill and a fairly long neck. Their colouration remains the same irrespective of the season or gender. However, the females are larger than the males. They are coloured white with dark wings and a dark tail. Thy have a back coloured face and throa, appearing as a mask and hence deeming their name. They have yellow coloured eyes that pop out in the background black colour.
They are amazing divers and hence, fish and squid form majority of their diet.
Al Badush
Al Badush
( Arenaria interpres )
Along the Indian coast mostly in rocky sea shores and associated ecosystems in the winter months.
Like most sea birds, they vary in colour depending on the season. In winter, when they visit the Indian coast, you can spot them exhibiting a dull dark greyish brown upper part of the body coupled with black spots and a dark head with some white smears. They can reach a maximum length of about 24 cm and have a wingspan of about 57 cm. Their bills are long and dark coloured while their legs are short and bright orange in colour.
Feed on eggs, fish, insects, crustaceans.