Albatrosses, Petrels, and Allies

These skilled ocean travellers are known for their tube-shaped nostrils, a special feature among sea birds that contains glands to remove salt, which is important for living far out at sea. This group includes birds ranging from huge albatrosses with wingspans over three metres to tiny storm petrels barely bigger than sparrows. They all have a distinctive musky smell and produce oils in their stomachs to feed their chicks and defend themselves. They are experts at a flying technique called dynamic soaring, which lets them travel great distances while using very little energy. They rarely come ashore except to breed. They are found in all the world's oceans but are most common in the Southern Hemisphere. Some species often appear in British waters, especially during strong autumn winds. These birds nest in colonies on remote islands and cliffs by the coast, usually laying just one egg. They mature slowly, care for their young for a long time, and can live for many decades, with some living beyond sixty years.