Manx Shearwater

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Manx Shearwater in the UK

A summer visitor that breeds in burrows on offshore islands, mainly in the west. Britain and Ireland hold the great majority of the world population, in several hundred thousand pairs, and Wales alone may hold more than half. Three islands, Skomer and Skokholm in Pembrokeshire and Rum in the Inner Hebrides, hold about three quarters of British and Irish birds. It is Amber-listed, and so much of the world population depends on so few sites that each colony matters. Recent surveys suggest numbers have grown since 2000. Birds arrive in March and leave by October to winter off Brazil and Argentina.

Where and when to see a Manx Shearwater

Birds only visit colonies after dark, so the best experience is an overnight stay on Skomer or Skokholm, bookable through the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. By day, look from west coast headlands between May and September: Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire and the far west of Cornwall are classic seawatching points. Ferries to the Hebrides, Isles of Scilly and Ireland pass feeding birds. On summer evenings large rafts gather on the sea off the colonies. Onshore winds bring birds closer. Fewer are seen in the North Sea.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Atlantic; islands (summer).
Diet: Fish, squid.
Field note: Banks low over waves; nocturnal at colony.

How to identify a Manx Shearwater

A mid-sized seabird, smaller than a Herring Gull, with long, narrow, straight wings. It is black above and clean white below, with a dark cap that reaches below the eye. The flight gives it away: a burst of fast, stiff wingbeats, then a long glide low over the waves, tilting from side to side so the bird flashes black, then white. In strong wind it arcs high above the horizon. It never follows boats for scraps like a Fulmar, and looks cross-shaped at a distance.

Call and song

Silent at sea. At colonies on dark nights it makes a loud, hoarse, crowing cackle, both in flight and from the burrow. Thousands calling together sound eerie, and the noise gave rise to old island legends of spirits. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Balearic Shearwater: Balearic is dusky brown above and dirty buff below with dark armpits and undertail, with no clean black and white contrast.
• Sooty Shearwater: Sooty is larger and all dark with a silvery flash on the underwing, and has longer, more swept-back wings.
• Razorbill: Auks are also black above and white below but fly straight on whirring wings and never glide or shear.

Month by month

A summer visitor, typically in the UK from March to September. Numbers peak in April. See the April birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in British seabirds.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Manx Shearwater is an Uncommon tier bird, worth +3 points when you log one. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Audubon's ShearwaterLegendary · Pelagic (very rare)
• Balearic ShearwaterRare · South coast (autumn)
• Barolo ShearwaterLegendary · Open sea (extreme vagrant)
• Mediterranean ShearwaterLegendary · Med + Bay of Biscay
• European Storm PetrelRare · Atlantic; remote islands
• Arctic SkuaUncommon · Northern moors (summer); sea (passage)

Manx Shearwater: quick answers

Where can I see a Manx Shearwater in the UK?

From any west-facing headland in summer with a telescope, or from a ferry in the Irish Sea or Hebrides. For birds at the nest, book a night on Skomer or Skokholm. Rum, the Copeland Islands off County Down, Lundy and Scilly also have colonies.

How long does a Manx Shearwater live?

Longer than almost any other British bird. The oldest ringed bird on record was over 50 years old, and a breeding adult typically lives about 15 years. A long-lived bird flies millions of miles on its yearly trips to South America and back.

Why do Manx Shearwaters only come ashore at night?

They are clumsy on land, with legs set far back, and are easy prey for large gulls. Visiting burrows in darkness cuts that risk, and they avoid bright moonlit nights. Rats are a bigger threat, which is why colonies survive only on rat-free islands.

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